OCTA: NCR posts notable decrease in infections

OCTA Research reported on Saturday that four cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) were now in the “moderate risk” category after posting continuing decline in the number of Covid-19 cases.

OCTA’s May 15 report said the 30 percent compared to last week cities of Navotas, Malabon, Manila — while the reproduction number and Caloocan were removed from is now at 0.57 and the positivity the “high risk” category after recording rate down to 12 percent. an average daily attack OCTA Senior Research Fellow rates (ADAR) of less than 10 cases Dr. Guido David estimated that per 100,000 population. the entire NCR will soon enter

A “high-risk” locality has more the moderate risk category based than 10 cases per 100,000 population on its 11.91 cases per 100,000 ADAR. population ADAR.

OCTA said the average new “We are getting there — there daily cases in the region was down were others that were close to to 1,644 per day — a decrease of attaining the moderate risk classification,” David told The Manila Times in a phone interview.

“Our position is, we cannot be in lockdown forever. We can take some risks by opening up so we can restore the economy,” he added.

David lauded the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for basing its recent recommendations on scientific data.

“We think the government is using science as a guide to pandemic management,” he said.

Indian variant

David cautioned on the detection of the B1617 Indian variant in two Filipino seamen.

“We don’t think that it has spread here, but we want to be careful at the same time,” David said.

David recommended a tight watch on the country’s backdoors like Zamboanga and Puerto Princesa.

“We have to be more strict with our borders, as the outbreak always changes. And once we start the vaccination rollout, then we can be more liberal on our border protocols but until then, we have to hold this together so we can prevent the spread of the virus across the country,” David said, adding the NCR should vaccinate 30 to 50 percent of its population to fully reopen its economy.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told local government units to strengthen their case detection and isolation procedures.