OCTA: NCR COVID-19 reproduction number down

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.

 

“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

Popular

Palace reacts to China’s ban on ex-Sen. Tolentino, former Pres. spox Roque statement; issues updates on probe of ‘missing sabungeros’

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet At the Palace press briefing held this Wednesday, July 2, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro...

Gov’t remains ‘relentless’ in supporting PH Air Force — PBBM

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s continued support to the Filipino airmen and airwomen as the Philippine Air Force (PAF)...

PBBM ‘rings’ CMEPA into effectivity

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Investments serve as the lifeblood of a successful and progressive nation, paving the way for an economy that adopts to the...

‘Best is yet to come’: PBBM rallies Alex Eala after WTA finals debut

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency On Sunday, June 29, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offered words of encouragement to tennis sensation Alex...