COVID reproduction number down to 0.93 in NCR —OCTA

The COVID-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region decreased to 0.93 after almost a month since the government imposed stricter lockdown in the metropolis and its nearby provinces, OCTA Research Group said Sunday.

In its latest monitoring report, the research group said the reproduction number, which is the number of people that the virus can infect, dropped to 0.93 for the week April 18 to 24. 

On April 22, OCTA said the reproduction rate went down to 0.99

Also, the independent research team found out that the one week growth rate of new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region reached  -20%. 

Current daily average plummeted to  3,841 over the past week from 5,552 during the surge of new infections reported three weeks ago.

OCTA Research said this shows a "clear downward trajectory for new COVID-19 cases" in Metro Manila.

"All seventeen LGUs in NCR had a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases compared to the previous week. Solid downward trends (with at least two consecutive weeks of negative one-week growth rate) were observed in Pasay, Navotas, Muntinlupa and Caloocan," the report indicated.

Citing data from Department of Health COVID DataDrop, OCTA bared the daily new cases and growth rate of NCR and other regions:

Meanwhile, the positivity rate in Metro Manila went down to 19% with an average of 26,120 over the past week from 25% recorded three weeks ago.

Cases in Pampanga and Batangas up

Meanwhile, outside of the NCR plus bubble, two provincial cities recorded an increase in their daily COVID-19 infections.

OCTA research noted a significant increase in Batangas and Angeles City, Pampanga.

"Angeles City, Pamanga had a significant increase in new COVID-19 cases per day up 31% to 89," read the report.

Pampanga's new cases went up by 6% after it recorded an average of 334 additional cases per day in the past week.

Batangas also registered an increase of 24% from the previous week to 327 new cases daily.

Also, occupancy rate and intensive care unit capacity remained high in the NCR plus bubble. But some cities reported a drop in their healthcare capacity due to expansion of hospital beds and ICU capacity.

Philippines registered a total of 989,380 cases of the severe respiratory ailment including 89,485 active cases, 883,221 recoveries and 16,674 fatalities, as of Saturday. —LBG, GMA News