NCR COVID-19 positivity rate dips to 13.9% —OCTA

The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate continued to decrease in several areas in the country, with that of the National Capital Region (NCR) now down to 13.9%, based on the data shown by independent monitoring group OCTA Research.

OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David showed that NCR’s positivity rate — or the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested — went down from 14.4% on December 10 to 13.9% on December 17.

“Ang nakikita natin sa Metro Manila, bumaba ang positivity rate niya. Bumababa na siya from 14.4% to 13.9%. Nagsisimula na rin siya bumaba in most provinces in the Philippines. Iilan na lang ‘yung tumataas ang positivity rate,” he said in a public briefing.

(The positivity rate has dropped in Metro Manila. It decreased from 14.4% to 13.9%. It is also starting to go down in most provinces in the Philippines. Only a few areas show an increase in positivity rates.)

David attributed the development to the possible end of the Omicron BQ.1 wave in the country, but said that certain areas where BQ.1 has not yet gotten into may still see an increase in COVID-19 infections.

“It looks like the BQ.1 wave is receding in time for a Happy Holiday,” David said in a tweet.

He also pointed out that the public’s wall of immunity is getting stronger because of the continued vaccination efforts and use of face masks, albeit optional.

In Luzon, positivity rates in provinces like Albay, Batangas, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Pangasinan also declined.

In Visayas and Mindanao, positivity rates decreased in Aklan, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Davao del Norte, Leyte, Oriental Mindoro, and South Cotabato.

However, Bataan, Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, Zambales, Davao del Sur, Iloilo, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Palawan, and Zamboanga del Sur all saw an uptick in positivity rate from December 10 to December 17.

“Pero nagsisimula na ring bumaba ang positivity rates ng mga ito. Siguro hindi naman natin pinapangambahan ‘yan. It looks like maganda ang outlook natin for the coming weeks and for early next year,” David said.

(But their positivity rates are also starting to decrease. We don't have to fear that. It looks like our outlook for the coming weeks and for early next year is good.)

Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said last week that there is no need to panic about the slight increase in COVID-19 infections as long as hospital utilization in the country remains manageable.

The Philippines on Sunday recorded 973 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the active caseload down to 17,900.

Vergeire on Monday expressed hope that the state of public health emergency due to COVID-19 will come to an end next year. —KG, GMA Integrated News