OCTA says COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila up by 3% only

COVID-19 cases recorded in the National Capital Region between March 31 and April 6 grew by 3% only, the OCTA Research group said Wednesday.

In its latest monitoring report, the group said Metro Manila reported an average of 5,146 new COVID-19 cases between March 31 to April 6, bringing the one-week growth rate to just 3%.

This is lower than the previous recorded weekly increase of 19% between March 25 to April 1.

Likewise, the group said that from March 31 to April 6, the reproduction rate of COVID-19 in Metro Manila was recorded at 1.43, down from the previous figure of 1.53 reported on April 6.

It added that the reproduction number, the rate of infection one COVID-19 case can infect, is at 1.45 nationwide.

However, the group said these figures may be subject to correction once the remaining data from the previous week arrives.

"This means that we are not seeing the complete picture with respect to growth rate and trends, and once late data comes in this week. There will be some corrections in the findings," it said.

Apart from the lower one-week growth rate in Metro Manila, the OCTA Research Group also noted negative one-week growth rates in the cities of Pasay, Marikina, Makati, Manila, Taguig, Navotas, and Mandaluyong; while single digit or less growth rates were also observed in the cities of Parañaque, and Las Piñas.

However, the group pointed out that these figures are also still subject to correction factors pending late testing reports due to the Holy Week break.

"The positivity rate in the NCR remained at 25%, with slightly lower positivity rates observed in some cities (Pasay - 17%, Manila - 23%, Marikina - 23%, and Makati - 24%)," it said.

Meanwhile, the group said cities within the NCR Plus bubble continue to experience high hospital bed and ICU utilization for COVID-19 patients.

It added that health care utilization rates will continue to remain high as the NCR Plus is expected to report high daily number of COVID-19 cases for the succeeding weeks. 

Earlier, the continuous rise in the number of COVID-19 cases prompted the extension of the enhanced community quarantine imposed in the NCR Plus bubble until April 11.

OCTA has projected that the Philippines may have more than 1 million COVID-19 cases before the end of April as the surge continues in the country.

On Tuesday, the Philippines reported 9,373 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally to 812,760. —LBG, GMA News