The COVID-19 positivity rate of the National Capital Region (NCR) has declined to 3% as of Nov. 11, 2021, according to the data of OCTA Research Group.
The latest figure is below the 5% benchmark of the World Health Organization (WHO) for sufficient testing capacity of the country.
OCTA’s Dr. Guido David said this is within the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standard of 3%.
The group said an improved surveillance or contact tracing for suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region is also related to the lower positivity rate.
“In the NCR, we have seen this 5% level for about two weeks now, and in fact, as we mentioned, it’s already down to 3% which is the lowest I have seen in the NCR since the beginning of the pandemic,” David said.
The region is also under the low risk category with an average daily reported case count of 365, based on OCTA data. Its daily average daily attack rate (ADAR) is 2.58 as of Nov. 11, with a reproduction number of 0.37.
Their metrics also indicate that Navotas, Caloocan, and Malabon are considered very low risk, while other Metro Manila cities and municipalities are under low risk level.
Biologist Fr. Nicanor Austriaco said Metro Manila’s pandemic status can now be compared with New York and Los Angeles in the United States based on population, vaccination rate, positivity rate, daily COVID-19 cases, and hospitalization rate.
“The question now arises about considering increasing the mobility of our Filipino citizens and relaxing pandemic health practices to make them more comparable to these two American cities,” Austriaco said.
Alert levels
With NCR’s high vaccination rate, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion proposed that the region be downgraded to a more relaxed Alert Level 1.
“At least December 1, we should move towards Alert Level 1, if these cases continue to go down and hopefully we continue to maintain it where it is,” he said.
However, due to waning immunity, Austriaco said the country should prepare for booster shots in the first or second quarter of 2022 to prevent Delta variant resurgence.
Meanwhile, the percentage of Filipinos having doubts of getting the vaccine slightly increased from 16% to 22% in the Sept. 11 to 16 OCTA survey.
“There are many strategies that can be employed, the important thing is the last mile, we have to reach to them and inform them,” Prof. Ranjit Rye said
“I’m very sure once they are informed, they will not hesitate to get themselves vaccinated…more than misinformation, that’s the challenge here,” he added. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
Watch the report here:
