NCR's COVID-19 reproduction number dropped to 0.85 —OCTA

COVID-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) dropped this week to 0.85, the OCTA Research group reported Saturday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo DZBB, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said the figure is lower than Thursday's 0.87 -- the number  of people that one COVID-19 case can infect.

David added that the country's reproduction number is at 0.91, which is lower than the 0.98 reported on Sunday.

NCR's positivity rate, or the percentage of positive test results over the number of conducted tests, also went down to 17%, while its seven-day average is at about 3,600.

"Malaki na ang ibinaba niyan kasi ang pinakamataas natin, umabot tayo ng halos 6,000 cases per day," David said.

(The decrease is huge because our highest in NCR reached to nearly 6,000 cases per day.)

"Ganunpaman, we acknowledge na kahit bumababa, mataas pa siya, at mataas pa rin ang ICU utilization natin sa Metro Manila,"

(However, we acknowledge that despite the decrease, the numbers are still high, including the ICU utilization in Metro Manila.)

David said NCR's average daily attack rate (ADAR), or the number of new daily cases per 100,000 population, is still at critical level.

"Baka next week. Puwedeng bumaba na 'yung risk classification sa Metro Manila," he said. "Titingnan pa natin pero maaaring bumaba siya sa moderate risk base sa COVID Act Now indicators na tinitingnan natin."

(Probably next week, the risk classification could be lowered in Metro Manila. We are still monitoring but it could be lowered at moderate risk based on the COVID Act Now indicators we are looking at.)

David also reported a decline of  COVID-19 trend in CALABARZON, with a reproduction number of less than 1. A decrease in the number of cases was also seen in Cavite, and Laguna.

However, cases are surging in the Cordillera Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. —LBG, GMA News