The COVID-19 reproduction number or rate of transmission in the National Capital Region (NCR) has slightly increased from 0.37 to 0.44 on Nov. 12, data from OCTA Research Group showed.
The group said there was also an increase in the region’s seven-day moving average from 364 cases between Nov. 3 and 9, to 423 cases between Nov. 5 and 11.
OCTA’s Prof. Guido David said there is no clear indication yet whether cases have plateaued or whether there have been changes in the current downward trend. A continuous decline in the number of cases is expected.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed that Metro Manila’s remains under the low risk category with 3.37 average daily attack rate (ADAR), and negative two-week growth rate (2WGR).
Its healthcare utilization rate is at 27% while the intensive care unit (ICU) utilization is at 37%.
The DOH said it is not rushing the easing of restrictions to ensure that more cases are prevented.
Among the metrics for Alert Level 1 downgrade are maintaining low risk classification within two incubation periods or one month and vaccination status.
“Dapat po para maging Alert Level 1, mayroon kang 70% vaccination coverage for your senior citizens, mayroon kang 70% vaccination coverage for individuals with comorbidity, at mayroon ka dapat 70% of your 70% target from your eligible population,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
As of Nov. 10, around 100% of Metro Manila’s vaccination target population have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 91.10% have completed their doses.
OCTA earlier said the country must prepare for booster shots amid waning immunity to prevent Delta variant resurgence.
Vergeire said the increase of cases in other countries is not caused by lack of booster shots.
“Base sa ebidensya base sa mga pag-aaral na ginagawa ng mga eksperto, and even based from the experiences now happening in other countries where there are again increases in their cases, the unvaccinated ang nakakapag-cause ng pagtaas ng kaso sa isang bansa,” she said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
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