COVID-19 fatality rate in NCR increased to 2.02% –OCTA Research

The COVID-19 fatality rate in the National Capital Region increased to 2.02% as of April 11, according to a report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

The OCTA Research group said the figure was at 1.8% in October last year.

As of April 4, the research team also said that the 0-17 and 65+ age groups had higher than average growth rates in new cases at 28% and 35%, respectively.

The researchers said this means more people in these age groups are getting sick with COVID-19.

On Friday, the Department of Health reported the highest number of new fatalities since the pandemic started at 401. The previous highest number of fatalities recorded was at 382 on April 6

Earlier in the day, the government placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces under a modified enhanced community quarantine from April 12 until April 30 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, the OCTA Research group said the government should extend the ECQ in the National Capital Region Plus for another week to slow down the surge in infections.

If an ECQ extension could not be considered for socioeconomic reasons, the group suggested a two-week modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to “sustain the gains” made over the previous weeks.

Professor Ranjit Rye said the COVID-19 situation in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal — collectively dubbed NCR Plus — is “not yet ideal for opening up.”

Rye said the reproduction number of the coronavirus remained above 1, meaning each COVID-19 case can still infect more than one other person, and the average number of daily new cases continues to be “very high.”

The Philippines has so far recorded a total of 864,868 cases of COVID-19 including 703,404 recoveries, 14,945 deaths, and 146,519 active cases. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News