NCR COVID-19 positivity rate down to 5.8% —OCTA

The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) dropped to 5.8% in the first week of 2023, according to data by independent monitoring group OCTA Research on Tuesday.

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 — decreased from 9.1% on December 31, 2022, to 5.8% on January 7, 2023.

In Luzon, positivity rates in Batangas, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan decreased to “low” level, meaning they went below the 5% threshold.

Bulacan recorded the lowest data at 3.5%, down from the previous week’s 4.4%.

Other provinces like Albay, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, La Union, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon, and Rizal all reported a decline in positivity rates over the past week as well.

Despite this, positivity rates were still considered “high” in Isabela and Albay, with 35.1% and 25.6%, respectively.

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday a total of 3,127 new COVID-19 infections were registered nationwide from January 2 to January 8, 2023. The daily case average for the recent week was 447—this was 9% lower than the previous 494.

On Monday alone, 473 new COVID-19 cases were recorded.

NCR still reported the highest number of new cases in the last 14 days with 2,200. Calabarzon followed with 1,090; Central Luzon with 527; Western Visayas with 339; and Cagayan Valley with 338. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News