OCTA sees ‘significant increase’ in COVID-19 positivity rate in 4 Luzon areas

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Monday the COVID-19 positivity rate significantly rose in Albay, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, and Pampanga in the past week.

Among the areas in Luzon, the seven-day positivity rate was seen the highest in Ilocos Sur at 44.8% on December 24, up from 30.6% on December 17.

It was followed by Kalinga with 41.7% from the previous 26.2%.

Positivity rate also climbed in Albay from 23.3% on December 17, to 35.4% on December 24.

Pampanga, meanwhile, recorded 17.0% from the previous 12.5%.

Aside from these four provinces, the positivity rate — or the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested — also went up in Batangas, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, and Quezon.

On the other hand, the positivity rate continued to decline in the National Capital Region (NCR) from 13.9% on December 17, to 11.5% on December 24.

Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, La Union, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales likewise recorded a decrease.

Based on recent data by the Department of Health (DOH), NCR still recorded the most COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks with 4,887 cases.

Next was Calabarzon with 2,181; Central Luzon with 1,507; Western Visayas with 573; and Cagayan Valley with 464.

The DOH announced on Friday that four cases of the Omicron subvariant BF.7 have been detected in the Philippines.

The agency, however, stressed that current evidence does not suggest any difference in severity or clinical manifestations between the BF.7 and the original Omicron variant.

Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said Monday that there is a possibility that new COVID-19 infections will increase again considering the recent detection of Omicron subvariant BF.7, and the gathering of people over Christmas. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News