COVID-19 positivity rate up in NCR, 12 Luzon areas –OCTA

The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) further rose to 12.4%, while increases were also seen in 12 Luzon provinces, independent monitoring group OCTA Research reported Monday.

In a tweet, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said NCR’s positivity rate — or the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested — had an uptick from 11.1% on November 26 to 12.4% on December 3.

Bataan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, and Zambales also recorded an increase in positivity rate over the same period.

Nueva Ecija logged the recent highest positivity rate in Luzon at 39.1%, up from 32.9% on November 26. It was followed by Camarines Sur with 38.8%, and Isabela with 38.6%.

Ten provinces in Luzon, on the other hand, showed a decline in positivity rates: Albay, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, and Tarlac.

Positivity rate was seen as the lowest in Batangas at 5.2% on December 3, down from 5.4% on November 26.

The Philippines on Sunday recorded 1,173 new COVID-19 cases — the fourth straight day that above 1,000 new cases were logged nationally.

The Department of Health (DOH) said NCR recorded the most number of cases in the last two weeks with 4,824 followed by Calabarzon with 2,009, and Central Luzon with 1,025.

Variants, subvariants

Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani cited the emergence of the new COVID-19 variants and subvariants, and the waning immunity of the public as the reason why the infections are rising anew.

“Itong mga variants na ito, paiba-iba ng kanilang tinatawag na mutations. Kada iba ng mutations nila, nawawala ‘yung dating epekto ng mga bakuna nang konti, ‘yung iba. Ibig sabihin, nagiging susceptible ulit kahit medyo meron na silang protection before,” she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(These variants have mutations. Each time they mutate, the vaccine’s effectiveness loses a bit. That means, people become susceptible again even if they had protection before.)

“‘Yan ‘yung kaso ngayon kaya dumadami na naman — aside from waning immunity ng mga nabakunahan, at itong variant na ito. So ano ang dapat gawin? Kailangan magpa-booster,” she added.

(That's the reason why the cases are increasing again now — the waning immunity of the vaccinated, and this variant. So what should be done? People need to get boosters.)

From December 5 to 7, 2022, DOH is spearheading a COVID-19 vaccination drive in a bid to increase the Filipinos’ booster uptake and inoculation rate among children.

Get inoculated

With this, Gloriani reminded the public, particularly the younger population, to get inoculated as COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for five years old and above.

“Ang bakuna is a very good protection dito sa mga bata, across all ages, hindi pa nga nation ma-cover ‘yung below five [years old] eh, marami nang mapo-protektahan. So importante ‘yun,” she said.

(The vaccine is a very good protection for children, across all ages, even though we haven’t covered yet those below five years old. It’s important and can protect many people.)

DOH said that 5,333,423 kids aged five to 11 are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as of November 30. This was 48.9% of the 10.8 million target population for the age group.

Meanwhile, 10,010,095 adolescents aged 12 to 17 have also completed their primary vaccine series. This was 112% of the 8.9 million target population.

At least 1,082,475 or 12% of the aged 12 to 17 have also received their first booster dose.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News