Metro Manila sees huge drop in COVID-19 cases
MANILA: A significant drop has been noted in the number of COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila that could mean an average of only 2,000 cases per day by May 14, based on a report from an independent research group.
The OCTA group pointed out this meant the average number of COVID-19 cases went down 58 per cent from the peak of the surge in infections from March 29 to April 4 that threatened to overwhelm the healthcare system in the metropolis, known officially as the National Capital Region.
Another positive aspect noted, OCTA said, was that the reproduction rate of the virus also recorded a downward trajectory to 0.69, indicating that one confirmed COVID-19 patient could infect less than one person. At the same time, OCTA reported that the capacity of healthcare facilities has eased considerably with hospital beds down to 51 per cent although intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy was still at 69 per cent or near the “high risk” level.
Metro Manila is composed of 16 cities and one town with a total population of close to 13 million. The government has imposed a modified enhanced community quarantine or lockdown on the metropolis along with four neighboring provinces - Cavite, Laguna and Rizal in Southern Luzon as well as Bulacan in Central Luzon.
But the group expressed concern that even with the easing of the health crisis in Metro Manila, considered as the epicentre of the pandemic, at least other cities in the country have emerged as “areas of concern” regarding the pandemic, according to OCTA. The group warned there has been an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in Cagayan de Oro City inn Mindanao, Puerto Princesa City on the island province of Palawan and Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in the Visayas.
These areas needed immediate atention to prevent the spread of the virus, said OCTA, composed of experts from the government-run University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas, operated by Dominican priests.
On Saturday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,979 confirmed new COVID-19 cases, which brought the national tally to a total of 1,094,849. It added recoveries hit 1,013,204 from 10,179 new survivors while the death toll rose to 18,269 from 170 new fatalities.
Meanwhile, the two Filipino crewmen of a Panama-flagged container ship, who were in critical condition from COVID-19 have been declared in “stable condition” a few days ater they were extracted from the vessel. This was revealed by Luisito delos Santos, the information officer of the government Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) who said the two patients are still confined in undisclosed quarantine facility along with 10 other Filipino asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) crewmen.