By NG Seruela
The OCTA Research group said the National Capital Region (NCR) is experiencing a surge following the increase in the number of cases to an average of almost 1,000 cases per day.
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday (July 27), OCTA Research fellow Professor Ranjit Rye said the NCR is “officially” in a surge with an increased reproduction number of 1.33.
“Right now, it’s official, we are in a surge po dito sa NCR. Hindi po pwedeng balewalain ito. Hindi po pwedeng hindi pansinin itong pagtaas [ng cases],” he said.
OCTA Research member Dr. Guido David affirmed Rye’s statement, saying the region is “averaging almost 1,000 cases per day.”
“Ngayon, we are averaging almost 1,000 cases per day. Kapag hindi pa ito mapigilan, we have to have a discussion kung ano pa ang pwedeng maidagdag na restrictions or interventions para mapabagal ang pagtaas ng mga cases,” he said.
Rye believes the country must be prepared for not just a surge in cases, but a “strong response from the government which is possibly a lockdown.”
He suggested that the Philippines must adopt the “go early, go hard” measure of Australia and New Zealand in containing the surge. He explained that the measure would entail an anticipatory, preventive, circuit-breaking lockdown over the next two weeks to decrease the cases.
“Ibig sabihin, mayroon tayong anticipatory, preventive, circuit-breaking lockdowns po na ang tingin namin, kung gagawin natin ito over the next two weeks, hindi lang natin mapapababa ang kaso, hindi lang natin mapapababa ang nahahawa at mamamatay, mase-save pa natin ang economy po,” he said.
Rye emphasized that it is better to enforce early circuit-breaking restrictions than wait for the cases to further increase. He warned that if the government lets the Delta variant spread, it “will lose effective control of the epidemic.”
“Kung maaga tayo mag-e-enforce ng circuit-breaking restrictions na sa tingin namin ay mas mainam ‘yun. Maaga na maingat, mababa pa ang kaso, kaunti ang mahahawa, halos walang mamamatay, at ‘yung ekonomiya ay mase-save po natin,” he said.
Meanwhile, the OCTA lauded the national government’s vaccination drive.
“Ang isang bright light sa ating COVID response ay ang vaccination. Wala na po kaming masabi. Ang kaunti po ng supply natin pero whatever we get, we efficiently distribute.” – jlo
