The University of the Philippines (UP) OCTA Research Group has identified 9 areas in the Philippines as high risk areas of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
These include Makati City, Malabon City, Baguio City, Itogon and Tuba in Benguet; Lucena, Quezon; Iloilo City; Catarman, Northern Samar; Pagadian, Zamboang Del Sur.
According to the OCTA Research Group, the said places have high attack rates case load, and hospitalization occupancy. They may experience a “hospital burden” in the next few weeks.
OCTA Research Professor Ranjit has pointed out that “in those areas, if no aggressive intervention is undertaken, you will fill up the hospitals. Because the hospitals right now, if you are in the hotspot list, it’s likely the hospital is also filling up.”
While the Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the report, it reminded the group to be careful in analyzing data.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has stated that “Kailangan din nating tingnan (We also need to see) how many or how much did the city or the province has allocated for COVID beds para masabi natin na pag high na ang occupancy (so we can say that if the occupancy is high), it is really rational and valid na sinasabing yung kanilang 30 percent na in-allocate (that the 30% that have been allocated) has already been utilized or nearing full utilization already.”
The R-naught of the Philippines have slightly increased from 0.82 on October 18-24 to 0.86. The NCR’s R-naught has also increased from 0.68 to 0.72. The positivity rate remains at 6% for three consecutive weeks.
“It provides the overall picture that the pandemic is slowing down in NCR. It’s consistent. And all the things to be done is for us to sustain it,” Rye has disclosed.
The group has advised the local government units (LGUs) to continue in strengthening the testing, tracing, isolation, and localized lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The DOH has encouraged that if the LGUs maintain the gatekeeping indicators until the end of 2020, it is possible that the areas will be placed under MGCQ earlier than expected. – Report from Mark Fetalco
