Davao City, Bacolod, Iloilo City, CDO, Tacloban 'areas of concern' for COVID-19 —OCTA

As daily COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region dipped to an average of 700, some cities in Mindanao and the Visayas were tagged as "areas of concern," OCTA Research said Tuesday.

For the period of June 15 to June 21, OCTA Research indicated in its June 22 report that Davao City, Bacolod, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban were dubbed as areas of concern due to the growth rate in new cases.

"Although there were some welcome news as new cases had a decrease in some noted hotspots, e.g. Bacolod, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Butuan," the report stated.

Specifically, Davao reported 246 new COVID-19 cases, which is higher from the previous week of 193. It also reported a 28% one-week growth rate with a 13.55 average daily attack rate (ADAR).

Tacloban's new cases climbed to 54 from the previous week's 41. Its one-week growth rate reached 34% while its ADAR soared to 20.76.

Bacolod documented 114 new cases — lower than last week's 161.  Its ADAR reached 13.55.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City's cases decreased to 88 new COVID-19 infections from 131 in the previous week. It also registered 18.54 ADAR.

Cagayan de Oro's new cases fell to 79 from 102 in the past week while its ADAR reached 10.83.

High hospital bed occupancy

The independent research group also documented critical level in hospital bed occupancy or greater than 70% in Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Tuguegarao, Dasmariñas, Butuan, Tacloban, Roxas City and Polomolok

Meanwhile, utilization of intensive care units were at critical level or above 85% in  Davao City, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Tagum, Cotabato City, San Pablo, Koronadal, Batangas City and Santa 11 Rosa.

OCTA Team also raised alarm at Calumpit, Bulacan, which reported 197% increase in its new COVID-19 cases. New virus cases in the municipality went up to 27 from previous week's nine new cases.

"A sharp increase in new cases, possibly  due to some clusters of cases, was observed in Calumpit (Bulacan) which had an almost 200% increase from the previous week, 14 Cotabato City, Tagum, Cebu City and Tacloban," OCTA said.

COVID-19 cases in Philippines down by 8%

For the whole Philippines, the number of daily COVID-19 cases was down by 8% for the period of June 15 to June 21, OCTA said.

The research team said daily cases in the country dropped to 6,027 per day from June 15 to June 21 from 6,578 cases reported from June 8 to June 14.

Further, the reproduction number in the Philippines' was at 0.95. Reproduction number is the number of people that a COVID-19 patient can infect.

OCTA Research also observed that cases in NCR or Metro Manila continued to decline to an average of 700 per day from June 15 to June 21, which is "a decrease of 15% from the previous week."

It also added that the reproduction number in the metropolis from June 15 to June 21 was at 0.73. —KBK, GMA News