Metro Covid transmission down

MMDA credits measures imposed by government to keep the economy afloat while checking virus spread

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Saturday credited concerted efforts by the government for the one-week negative growth rate registered in most Metro Manila cities from 9 to 15 April.

MMDA chairperson Benhur Abalos said that measures imposed by the national government and implemented by local government units (LGU), down to the barangay level, have eased transmission of the virus.

Downward transmission trends were recorded in Manila (minus-eight percent), Makati (-1 percent), Taguig (-13 percent), Mandaluyong (-6 percent) Valenzuela (-3 percent) Pasay (-12 percent), Marikina (-15 percent), Muntinlupa (-17 percent), and Navotas (-13 percent).

The latest data released by OCTA Research on Friday showed overall reproduction rate was at 1.16 percent for 9 to 15 April, down from 1.61 for the period 29 March to 4 April, when the enhanced community quarantine was first imposed.

Areas under granular lockdowns in NCR had been reduced to 24 communities, from the 132 last 29 March.

Abalos welcomed the reduction in the reproduction rate as he emphasized that the government is doing a tough balancing act in keeping the economy afloat while the country moves to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19.

“We have seen how helpful these measures that we’ve imposed are, as the trend continues to spiral down. I am confident that while we sustain these strategies as we are rolling out our immunization drive against the virus, we can further reduce the cases and deaths,” Abalos said.

“I am very thankful for the coordinated and unified efforts of our national government, through the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) and the LGU down to barangay level, to help prevent the spread of the virus across the region,” he added.

Isolation facilities have been put up for Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms to help ease hospital congestion in NCR.

Experts said the average of new Covid-19 cases reported daily in NCR was at 5,085 over the past week, with a one-week growth rate of -0.4 percent; while the positivity rate was 24 percent over the past week.