COVID-19 cases in Lubang Island increased by 580% —OCTA

The OCTA Research group on Monday said the COVID-19 cases in Lubang Island, Occidental Mindoro increased by 580%.

According to the latest report, the COVID-19 reproduction number in the area also spiked to 3.61. A reproduction number of 1 or higher is an indication of the continuous transmission of the virus.

“It is considered a critical risk area using criteria based on covidactnow.org,” OCTA said.

Lubang recorded an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of 170 cases per 100,000 individuals.

In a media briefing on Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this was due to the active case finding being conducted in Lubang.

“Kaya talagang biglang taas ang mga kaso. So this is a result of the active case finding at talagang maganda ‘yan dahil immediately, ma-isolate nila ‘yung mga taong may sakit,” Vergeire said.

(That’s why it suddenly increased. So this is a result of active case finding and this is good because they can immediately isolate sick individuals.)

“After 14 days, we hope that the number of cases in this area will continuously decline,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental is also considered at high risk.

It has an ADAR of 19.85 while its health care utilization rate is at 87%. The ICU occupancy rate in Dumaguete was recorded at 89%.

“Other high-risk areas that are already on a downward include Bacolod, Tagum, Santiago, and Bayombong,” OCTA said.

Meanwhile, OCTA earlier said COVID-19 cases in NCR are not yet rising even as its virus reproduction number increased slightly to 0.48.

The Philippines on Sunday reported 5,279 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,756,923 and active cases to 60,957. —KG, GMA News