Fewer COVID-19 cases reported with decrease in testing, OCTA says

Despite the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, the number of tests conducted to detect the coronavirus has declined, according to the OCTA Research Group.

In Dano Tingcungco's report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said that the number of cases being reported on a daily basis would be higher if testing levels were unchanged from that seen in January.

“We are seeing fewer cases partly because we’re not testing as many,” he said.

“Our seven-day average in Metro Manila is about 654 cases per day, so that means if we’re testing the same as in January, we would have about 1,300 cases per day already,” he said.

The Philippine positivity rate has been recorded at 9.5%. In Metro Manila, however, this has increased to 10.4% from 8.3% recorded on July 2.

David said another peak is expected by the end of July, before gradually declining in August.

“We don’t expect of course that the mask mandate will be relaxed right now when we’re still seeing an increase in cases. That will depend if cases are low and there’s some levels of relaxations and boosters reached,” he said.

“It’s not really wise to do that while cases are still rising of course, but I do believe that we are ready,” he added.

The Department of Health reported 2,018 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the highest daily tally in five months. 

Metro Manila and several other areas will remain under Alert Level 1—the loosest form of restrictions— until July 15, as announced by Malacañang. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News