The COVID-19 reproduction number in Metro Manila slightly climbed to 0.71, according to OCTA Research Group.
Reproduction number indicates the number that can be infected by a COVID-19.
In the April 30 Laging Handa public briefing, OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Butch Ong assured the public that the sligh increase in COVID-19 infection in Metro Manila “is not alarming.”
“Medyo bahagyang umakyat [yung reproductive number], pero hindi pa naman ganoon ka-alarming. ‘Yung ating daily new case ay below 200 pa lamang and let’s just say, karamihan sa mga probinsiya ay nasa double-digit or single-digit lamang,” Ong stressed.
“So we will be monitoring closely the provinces and regions in the next few days leading up to the elections,” he added.
Ong said they are currently monitoring the COVID-19 case trends in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Cotabato, Zamboanga, and Batangas.
He added that the cause of increase in COVID-19 cases in some areas is mostly due to mass gatherings and other election-related activities.
“Well, as we have determined even before, ‘yung mass gathering at iyong campaign-related activities, are kumbaga, where infections can be transmitted,” he added. -KC/gb
