OCTA expects new COVID-19 cases in NCR to continue decreasing

Independent monitoring group OCTA Research on Friday said it expected new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region to continue decreasing even as the reproduction number slightly increased to 0.44.

According to the latest OCTA report, the 7-day average in the region slightly increased over the past 2 days to 423 from the previous 364 recorded on November 3 to 9.

“We think the uptick may be attributed to the lower mobility during Undas and some backlog in the data,” OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said.

Meanwhile, the weekly growth rate in the NCR decreased to -14%.

On Thursday, OCTA said the positivity rate in the NCR was at 3% while the positivity rate nationwide was at 4.9%. This met the 5% positivity rate benchmark

“Kapag less than 5% ang positivity rate mo, mababa ang case transmission mo. So itong 5% or less hindi nababago ang protocols. Ang protocols natin applies for any type of positivity rate,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

(If the positivity rate is less than five percent, it means case transmission is low. This does not change protocols. Protocols apply for any type of positivity rate.)

Vergeire said the positivity rate of the country affects the intensification of protocols.

“And, of course, pag patuloy na bumaba ng bumaba ang positivity rate natin, nagpla-plano na tayo ng succeeding, no, na mga eventual na pagbubukas ng ibang industriya and also looking at how we can be able to sustain the behavior of our citizens,” she said.

(Of course, if the positivity rate continues to decrease, we will plan for the eventual opening of industries and how we can sustain the behavior of our citizens.)

The Philippines logged a total of 2,811,248 COVID-19 cases. — DVM, GMA News