NCR’s reproduction number slips to 0.55, lowest since May —OCTA

The OCTA Research group on Tuesday announced that the COVID-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region decreased to 0.55, the lowest since May.

According to OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David, this was the lowest reproduction number since May 18, when it was 0.56, before it increased a week later.

“Hopefully, the reproduction number stays below 0.6 until the year’s end,” David said.

Reproduction rate refers to the number of people infected by one case.

Reproduction number in NCR decreased to 0.55 as of 10.18.21, the lowest since 5.18.21 when it was at 0.56. The 7-day average is now 1411. We hope we can keep Rt below 0.6 the rest of the year @dzbb @allangatus @cnnphilippines @DZAR1026 @dzrhnews @News5PH @NewsRmn @dwiz882 pic.twitter.com/KlE1dDovB9

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) October 19, 2021

A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down.

Meanwhile, the 7-day average in NCR also went down to 1,411 from 1,448.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said the epidemic curve in the country’s major island groups, as well as NCR Plus areas, is on a downward trend.

It said that NCR shows a negative or low-risk two-week growth rate at -54% and a high-risk average daily attack rate (ADAR) at 12.28 per 100,000.

The Philippines has logged a total of 2,727,286 cases, of which 68,832 are active, 2,617,693 have recovered, and 40,761 have succumbed to the illness.

However, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said although the number of new COVID-19 cases is decreasing, the number of those confined in hospitals is increasing, according to a report of 24 Oras News Alert on Tueday. —KG, GMA News