By Kenneth Paciente
Amidst the implementation of stricter protocols through the (National Capital Region) NCR Plus bubble, the OCTA Research Group projects 1 million COVID19 cases by the end of the month.
This is based on the studies of the group considering the number of cases being recorded in the past few days.
However, OCTA admitted that the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the NCR Plus bubble helped in mitigating the reproduction rate.
Dr. Guido David said that from 1.9 during the GCQ Bubble, the reproduction rate became
1.6 following the implementation of the ECQ last week.
“Ibig sabihin niyan yung trend is slowing down, kung icocompare natin yung growth rate, one week growth rate, nag-decrease siya from 60% increase to 20%, ibig sabihin. ‘Yung number of new cases natin this week mga 5,500. It’s only a 20% increase from last week (This means that the trend is slowing down if compared to the growth rate, one week growth rate that decreased from 60% increase to 20%. The number of new cases this week was around 5,500. It’s only a 20% increase from last week),” Dr. David detailed in the Laging Handa briefing.
Dr. David also explained that even if there is a decrease in reproduction number, a high number of cases can still be observed in the coming days.
“The increase in cases has decreased. To compare the past week, the increase was 50% to 60% every week, so nadadagdagan ng 50% ng (50%) new cases (was added) every week. Now, for the past week, the increase was only down to 20 percent so yun yung (that was the) start ng (of) improvement,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Butch Ong asserted that it is better to wait for the effect of the ECQ extension before determining the next quarantine classification to be implemented.
“Ang puno’t dulo lang naman (The beginning and end of it all) is really the health care capacity must be able to take care all of the case being brought to them,” Dr. Ong added.
Dr. Edsel Salvana again urged the public to adhere to the minimum health standards saying
that “until we get enough people vaccinated kinakakilangan po natin na mas paigitingin pa ang ating mga ginagawa, mask, hugas (we need to act more seriously, use mask, wash). Do not go out unnecessarily.”
OCTA Group hopes that with the extension of the ECQ, the reproduction number of the COVID-19 cases may go down to or close to 1.
