'SURGE SLOWED DOWN'

NCR COVID-19 cases growth rate down but ECQ efforts need to be continued —OCTA

The growth rate of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila has decreased this past week, making the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) effective, independent organization OCTA Research said Sunday.

This means "the surge has slowed down in Metro Manila," OCTA said.

In the National Capital Region, fresh COVID-19 cases soared by 24% to 3,819 during August 15 to 21 from the 3,088 reported during August 8 to 14.

However, in its COVID-19 update, OCTA reported that efforts need to be sustained "over the next four weeks" to beat the surge.

The seven-day positivity rate in Metro Manila was at 22%, OCTA also said.

Decrease in reproduction number slower in August

Despite growing new COVID-19 cases, OCTA said the reproduction number in the metropolis decreased to 1.67 from 1.90.

OCTA explained that the current rate of decrease in reproduction number was slower this August compared to that in April due to the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant.

Further, the increased mobility, which was noted by the Department of Health, also contributed to the slower rate of decrease in reproduction number.

"In any case, the downward trend in new cases may happen in the next few weeks but this will require sustained efforts in pandemic management over the next four weeks by local and national government and the public," OCTA wrote. —KG, GMA News