'Significant' increase in COVID-19 cases reported in CDO, Davao City, Iloilo City —OCTA

The OCTA Research Group has monitored a “significant” rise in COVID-19 cases in some urban centers outside Metro Manila over the past week, according to the experts’ latest report released on Wednesday. 

"Significant increases in new cases were observed in Cagayan de Oro, Davao City and Iloilo City," the researchers said. 

The OCTA Research said Iloilo had 58 new cases, up 99% from last week, while Cagayan de Oro and Davao posted a weekly increase of 52% and 36%, respectively. 

Zamboanga City still recorded the highest number of new infections over the past week (158 cases), but it only grew by 4%. 

For the period May 11 to 17, Metro Manila’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) was 9.91 per 100,000 people while Puerto Princesa City had a weekly positivity rate of 87% as of May 16. 

“Most LGUs (local government units) within the NCR bubble (National Capital Region, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite) are on a downward trend in new cases,” the OCTA Research said. 

The reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that the virus can infect, in the country over the past week was 0.80. For NCR, the reproduction number was 0.54. 

The current seven-day average of new cases in the Philippines is 5,834, which is 11% lower compared to the previous week. 

The Philippines’ tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,154,388 on Tuesday after the Department of Health reported 4,487 new infections. There were 110 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 19,372. —KG, GMA News