OCTA: NCR COVID-19 situation better now compared to same period in 2020

The National Capital Region's (NCR) situation now amid the COVID-19 pandemic is better compared to the same period last year, according to OCTA Research on Monday, citing several indicators.

Among the indicators were average daily cases, reproduction number, daily attack rate, active cases, and positivity rate.

"Nearly all indicators are better now," said OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David on Twitter, comparing Metro Manila numbers during the November 1 to 7, 2021 period with the numbers during the November 1 to 7, 2020 period.

A table showed that average daily cases was at 405 this year, lower than the 501 during the same period last year.

Reproduction number, meanwhile, was at 0.37 this year, way lower than the 0.78% recorded during the same period in 2020.

Reproduction rate refers to the number of people infected by one case. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down.

The daily attack rate per 100,000 individuals was also lower this year at 2.86% compared to last year's 3.63%.

The COVID testing in the NCR increased to 21,430 this year from 15,577 last year, with the positivity rate now only at 4%, down from 6% in 2020. The active cases also decreased to 6,484 this year from 10,722 last year.

Occupied hospital beds, however, was slightly higher this year at 2,389 compared to last year's 2,290. Utilization of ICU beds was likewise higher this year  -- 524 compared to 322.

This means that 38% of the ICU beds were in use, while 24% of the ventilators were utilized.

As far as vaccination is concerned, there was 0 last year as the government's vaccination drive started only in March this year.

“Vaccines help to reduce the number of cases,” David said in a separate tweet.

On Sunday, the Department of Health reported an additional 2,605 new COVID-19 cases, making the total number of cases to 2,803,213.

The number of recoveries also climbed to 2,725,257, while the death toll reached 44,430 with 191 new fatalities.  —KBK, GMA News