NCR COVID-19 positivity rate at 26% as of May 17 —OCTA

COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) reached 26% as of May 17, according to the independent monitoring group OCTA research on Friday.

In a tweet, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said the region’s seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate was a slight increase from the 25.9% recorded on May 16.

Meanwhile, the nationwide positivity rate also slightly increased to 24.1% from the previous 23.8%, David said in a separate tweet.

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

David, meanwhile, said hospital occupancy in NCR climbed to 30% on May 17 from 28% on May 10, while intensive care unit occupancy increased to 25% from 23%.

David also said at least 746 COVID-19 cases were recorded in NCR on Thursday. He projects around 1,800 to 2,000 new cases on Friday.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported 2,014 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the active tally to 16,504.

This was the highest in four days and 15th straight day of more than 1,000 fresh cases reported daily, according to GMA News Research.

The new cases also pushed the nationwide caseload to 4,121,530, based on the DOH’s latest data. —Richa Noriega/KBK, GMA Integrated News