Average daily COVID-19 cases in NCR drop to 1,023 —OCTA

The average number of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in the National Capital Region decreased by 23% to 1,023 in the past week, the OCTA Research group said Thursday.

In its latest report, OCTA said the cases dropped to 1,023 from May 20 to May 26 with an average daily attack rate of 7.41.

OCTA earlier announced that the NCR has improved from being a high-risk to moderate-risk area for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate in the region decreased to 10% from May 19 to 25, slightly higher than the target of less than 5%.

On the other hand, the reproduction number was recorded at 0.52 over the past week.

A reproduction number of one or higher is an indication of the continuous transmission of the virus.

According to OCTA, the healthcare utilization rate in NCR was at 42% while ICU occupancy was at 57%.

LGUs with most cases per day

Quezon City has reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases among the local government units across the country from May 20 to 26, with 250 new cases per day.

This was followed by Zamboanga City with 109 new cases and Manila with 107.

Meanwhile, San Fernando in Pampanga, Santa Rosa in Laguna, and Marikina reported the least number of new cases per day with 34, 32, and 31, respectively.

“While the situation in the NCR has slowed down significantly since the surge began, and continues on a downward trend, the one-week growth rate has slowed down in some LGUs within the NCR bubble,” OCTA said.

OCTA observed that Malabon and Caloocan had recorded the lowest average daily attack rates of 3.57 and 4.89, respectively.

“Outside the bubble, Zamboanga City had the second-highest number of new cases, although its trend is now decreasing,” it said.

Meanwhile, OCTA observed significant one-week growth rates in the cities of Davao, Puerto Princesa, General Santos, Butuan, and Cebu.

The Philippines on Wednesday reported 1,193,976 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 1,127,770 have recovered and 20,169 have died. —LBG, GMA News