The latest monitoring report of the OCTA Research Group show that the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, and Central Luzon have an uptick in the number of their COVID-19 cases.
The increase in cases in Calabarzon has been highlighted in Laguna, Quezon, and Batangas; and in Tarlac, Bulacan, and Bataan in Central Luzon.
A rise in recorded cases was also seen in nine NCR cities including Caloocan, Quezon City, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Navotas, and San Juan. The daily average of new cases at 352 from November 11 to 17 in the NCR soared to 373 from November 18 to 24.
The reproduction number of the NCR also slightly grew to 0.83 from November 17 to 23 from 0.76 on November 10 to 16. Despite this, the reproduction number fell to four percent from five percent within the same time range.
“‘Di siya cause for alarm pero definitely dapat pansinin natin siya dahil ‘yung uptick nakikita natin sa mga lugar gaya ng Quezon City, Caloocan, Marikina, Makati (It is not a cause for alarm but we should look into it because the uptick is seen in areas like Quezon City, Caloocan, Marikina, Makati),” Prof. Ranjit Rye stated.
“‘Pag hindi natin pinansin ‘yan, pwedeng in a few weeks maging surge ‘yan gaya nung nangyari sa Europe (If we do not address this, a surge might take place in a few weeks just like what happened in Europe),” he warned.
The group’s report also showed a lower than critical level hospital occupancy in the NCR, except in Makati with 74 percent utilization rate.
Makati is the lone city in the NCR which was identified as one of the high-risk areas of COVID-19 transmission along with Baguio City, Lucena in Quezon, Batangas City, Capas in Tarlac, Davao City, and Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur.
Meanwhile, a joint statement of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio and Baguio Tourism Council expressed concern over the inclusion of the city as a hotspot. They insisted that efforts which include mass testing to detect more cases should be taken into consideration.
The OCTA Research said that the situations in Baguio and Davao City have significantly improved due to LGU efforts. – Report from Mark Fetalco
