The National Capital Region (NCR) is now considered high risk for COVID-19 based on its growing reproduction number, the OCTA Research Group reported Thursday (July 22).
A data monitoring report released today showed that the reproduction rate in the region rose to 1.15 from 0.9 last week, an indication of faster transmission.
“‘Yung increase ngayon na 0.24, similar siya from February 13 to 19 na tumalon siya nang ganoon kalaki. And noong February 13 to 19, it was the start of the surge,” OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said in an interview with PTV.
David said authorities have yet to confirm whether the increase has any connection to the prevailing COVID-19 Delta variant threat which has already entered the country.
“It’s very possible, pero wala pa tayong scientific basis. Pero I think we have to assume the worst if we’re planning ahead for the surge,” he said.
The group estimated that the number of nationwide COVID-19 cases may reach 8,000 today.
In line with this, they recommended that the government impose restrictions anew, reduce establishments’ capacity, implement localized lockdowns, and prohibit children from going out.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the country continues to strengthen its testing capacity in response to the Delta variant which is believed to be 97% transmissible.
“Ang contingency po namin ngayon, dahil marami na pong nag-a-apply for accreditation for molecular laboratory, dumarami na rin ngayon ang molecular laboratories na na-accredit po natin compared [with] last year at even last April,” DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said during a Rise and Shine Pilipinas interview.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is also in the process of hiring additional contact tracers.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during his July 22 briefing that he will push for intensified contact tracing measures at the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) meeting. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG- jlo
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