The reproduction number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila has gone down to 1.53 but is still in “critical range,” OCTA Research’s latest monitoring report released Wednesday said.
OCTA said several local government units in the National Capital Region had decreasing reproduction numbers as well as growth rates.
“The reproduction in the NCR decreased to 1.53 (with an error range of ±0.05). Several LGUs in the NCR had decreasing reproduction numbers and growth rates,” OCTA said.
This is lower compared to Metro Manila’s reproduction number, which refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual, of 1.78 on August 18.
The Philippines logged on Wednesday 13,573 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 1,883,088, as all laboratories were operational, but seven labs were not able to submit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.
Yesterday was the 15th straight day with more than 10,000 new cases.
In related developments:
* The virus that causes COVID-19 will not go away soon, the regional director of the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific office said Wednesday amid the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.
* Heart doctors of the Philippine Heart Association urged people to have themselves vaccinated against COVID-19, especially those with heart problems and similar ailments.
* Vice President Leni Robredo is under quarantine again after one of her staff tested positive for COVID.
* Sen. Nancy Binay said she is currently under quarantine after her mom, former Makati Mayor Dr. Elenita Binay, tested positive for COVID-19.
* Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan announced on Facebook that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
* Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso was discharged from the Sta. Ana Hospital on Wednesday after 10 days of confinement due to COVID-19.
OCTA said Navotas has a 1.4 reproduction number, while Pasay, Malabon, Manila, Quezon City, Makati, and Las Piñas have reproduction numbers below 1.5 and growth rates below 20percent.
Five LGUs had reproduction numbers higher than 1.7, according to the OCTA: Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Mandaluyong, and Caloocan.
The report covered the period of August 18 to 24, or the tail-end of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the NCR.
The NCR was under ECQ — the strictest quarantine protocol — from August 6 to 20 before it was downgraded to modified ECQ for the rest of the month.
Metro Manila averaged 4,019 new COVID 19 cases per day from August 18 to 24, which is 13percent higher than the previous week’s daily average, the OCTA said.
It added that the growth rates in previous weeks were 54 percent, 46 percent, and 67 percent.
In the past week, the OCTA said the positivity rate in the NCR was at 23 percent.
Only four LGUs were still below critical incidence or average daily attack rate (ADAR): Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, and Marikina.
The ICU occupancy in the region for COVID-19 cases was at high level, while the hospital beds utilization was at moderate.
At least five LGUs—San Juan, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Marikina—had ICU occupancy at critical level, while six LGUs—Makati, Taguig, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela, and Quezon City—were at high level.
Seven LGUs—Makati, San Juan, Navotas, Paranaque, Pasig, Valenzuela and Quezon City—have hospital bed utilization at high level, while Pateros’ hospital bed occupancy was at critical level.