The COVID-19 reproduction rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) as of Aug. 31 (Tuesday) declined to 1.43 from 1.56 on Aug. 24, data from OCTA Research Group showed.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported today (Sept. 1) that 14,216 COVID-19 cases were recorded. This brought the total number of cases to 2,003,955 with active cases at 140,949.
The group said the reproduction rate of Quezon City and Manila also decreased to 1.27 from 1.47 and to 1.33 from 1.49, respectively.
9.1.21. The reproduction number Rt in NCR decreased to 1.43 (as of 08.31.21) from 1.56 the previous week. Rt was actually lower in Quezon City (1.27) and in City of Manila (1.33). @dzbb @allangatus @dzrhnews @cnnphilippines @DZMMTeleRadyo @radyopilipinas1 @TV5manila @onenewsph pic.twitter.com/kMBCQT0pWs
— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) September 1, 2021
“That is always the hope that we can sustain the gains of the last ECQ which is the slowing down of the reproduction number but one point is still quite high in the NCR, and that’s why we are seeing our hospitals get filled up at the moment,” Prof. Ranjit Rye said.
Amid the decline in reproduction number or the number of possible infections from a confirmed case, data show that 45.51% or 4,449,041 of the region’s target population have received their second vaccine dose.
Metro Manila targets to vaccinate 9,776,356 of its population to achieve protection.
“Di natin masasabi kung may impact siya sa reproduction number. Pero that’s too small because we need higher 80% na mabakunahan to really see the number of cases na bababa,” Dr. Rontgene Solante of the Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP) said.
Meanwhile, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said he favors the administration of booster shots to health workers who received Sinovac vaccines, following reports of waning antibodies after six months.
“Kailangan bigyan talaga ng full protection ang health workers…We would like to request ‘yung WHO na iba ang consideration natin sa healthcare workers considering sila ang most vulnerable at sila tataaman,” Galvez said.
Dr. Nina Gloriani of VEP said there is no clear recommendation yet on the use of booster shots. However, experts continue to monitor data abroad.
“Titingnan natin sino ang pinaka at highest risk, kung meron po tayong gagawing subgroup analysis, including yung immunocompromised, elderly na very frail and groups with high risk of exposure like healthcare workers,” Gloriani said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG- bny
