Significant rise in COVID-19 positivity rate seen in South Cotabato, Misamis Oriental —OCTA

The COVID-19 positivity rate in South Cotabato and Misamis Oriental significantly increased last week, data shared by independent monitoring group OCTA Research showed Monday. 

In a tweet, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said that the positivity rate in South Cotabato jumped from 2.8% on February 18 to 13% on February 25.

Meanwhile, that of Misamis Oriental rose from 4.3% to 6.5% during the same period.

Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested.

Upticks were also observed in other provinces like Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Davao del Sur, Iloilo, Pampanga, and Pangasinan.

A “negligible decrease” in positivity rate, on the other hand, was recorded in the National Capital Region (NCR) from 1.7% on February 18, to 1.6% on February 25.

NCR still had the highest number of cases in the past two weeks with 431, according to data by the Department of Health.

It was followed by the Davao region with 239, Calabarzon with 172, Western Visayas with 95, and Soccsksargen with 80.

On Sunday, the Philippines logged 117 new COVID-19 cases, while the active cases fell to 9,327. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News