Very high COVID-19 positivity rate observed in Puerto Princesa, 3 other areas —OCTA

Puerto Princesa in Palawan and three other areas registered "very high" COVID-19 positivity rates as of February 22, independent group OCTA Research said Wednesday. 

The positivity rate, which refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested, was at 39% in Puerto Princesa, according to the OCTA Research tally shared on Twitter by OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David.

It was 33% in General Santos City, and 21% in Iligan and Naga City.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate is considered "high" in Ormoc (19%), Iloilo City (15%), Cagayan de Oro (12%), Cotabato City (11%), and Zamboanga City (11%).

The World Health Organization's target is less than 5% positivity rate.

Health care utilization rate (HCUR) meanwhile, is at 53% in Iloilo City, considered "moderate". HCUR refers to the occupancy of isolation, ward, and intensive care unit beds, as well as the utilization of mechanical ventilators.

It is 42% in Tacloban, 39% in Olongapo, 35% in Davao City, 34% in Zamboanga City, 33% in Puerto Princesa, 32% in General Santos, and 31% in Baguio City — all in the low risk category.

As for the reproduction number of the novel coronavirus — which refers to the number of people infected by one case — all cities on the list had it below 1. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down.

The average daily attack rate (ADAR) of the virus, referring to the incidence showing the average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people, was considered "moderate" in Baguio City (7.32) and Iloilo City (7.07).

It is also moderate in the National Capital Region, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Davao City, General Santos, Iloilo City, Lapu Lapu, Mandaue, Puerto Princesa, Santiago, and Zamboanga City.

The ADAR was low in all other areas reported, except for Cotabato City (0.96), Dagupan (0.93), Angeles (0.91), Lucena (0.64), and Olongapo (0.60), which were at very low.

The growth rate of new COVID-19 cases were decreasing in all areas.

Data used by OCTA Research came from doh.gov.ph, and indicators were based on covidactnow.org.

On Tuesday, the country recorded another record low in COVID-19 tally this year with 1,019 cases, bringing the nationwide total to 3,654,284, the Department of Health (DOH) said. 

The country's active case count is 56,668.

A total of 2,988 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, bringing the total tally to 3,541,840.

The number of deaths climbed to 55,776 with 13 new fatalities.

The DOH on Tuesday said all regions in the country are now at low risk for COVID-19, except for the Cordillera Administrative Region and the Davao Region. 

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said all regions have been reporting less than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the week.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is currently at low-risk case classification with a negative 1-week and 2-week growth rates and a moderate risk ADAR, the DOH said. —KG, GMA News