MMDA: Strict health measures led to COVID-19 dip

MANILA, Philippines — On the same day that the country recorded more than 200,000 active COVID-19 cases, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) lauded the “downward trend” of the virus’ growth rate in the region.

In a statement yesterday morning, the MMDA cited the OCTA Research Group’s report released on April 16 that several cities in Metro Manila had downward trends in new COVID-19 cases, as the reproduction number in the capital region dropped to 1.16 from 1.19 the earlier week.

MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos said the initiatives of the national and local governments resulted in the downward trend.

He said the research data is a “welcome development,” as the government aims to balance health and economic impacts of the deadly virus.
Abalos added that the aggressive contact tracing, mass testing, isolation and granular lockdown led to the slight dip in the virus reproduction rate.

“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,” the chairman said.

He also asked individuals not to be lax and continue following health protocols, so the downward trend would continue.

OCTA, in its Friday report, observed that Pasay, Manila, Marikina, Taguig and Mandaluyong had a downtrend in the growth rate of cases.

Metro Manila also recorded a one-week growth rate of -0.4 percent.

Yesterday, the Department of Health announced that the country recorded 11,101 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 926,052 cases nationwide.

The country’s active cases were at 203,710, the most in the Southeast Asian region since the COVID-19 pandemic began. – Romina Cabrera, Robertzon Ramirez