Despite the National Capital Region’s (NCR) average of 5,800 new COVID-19 cases per day, the region’s reproduction number has slightly dropped to 1.34 this week, down from 1.39 last week according to OCTA Research on Wednesday (Sept. 15).
With Metro Manila set to be placed under the Alert Level 4 starting tomorrow (Sept. 16), the OCTA Research suggested further tightening of restrictions and measures to curb the COVID-19 infection in NCR.
“We’re advocating na whatever granular lockdown to be undertaken, will have to be coupled at least the NCR with the testing, tracing and isolation and that these T3 [testing, tracing and isolation] will need to be expanded all over the country,” research fellow Prof. Ranjit Rye said.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers called on the government to focus more on the testing strategy and cover the testing costs to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hanggang hindi natin nari-raise ang testing, tracing, kahit anong alert pa gawin natin we will go back to the same problem,” Senator Nancy Binay said in a virtual forum on Wednesday.
They also said booster shots should be given to healthcare workers and people with comorbidities, due to some cases of breakthrough infection. – Report from Mark Fetalco / CF – bny
