Quezon City recovery rate for COVID-19 hits 90%

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City’s recovery rate for COVID-19 is now at 90 percent after 218 patients recovered from the disease over the weekend, Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

According to Belmonte, 19,363 out of 21,543 cases of COVID-19 validated by the city epidemiology and disease surveillance unit (CESU) and district health offices have recovered.

Of the number, 1,576 active cases were already recovering.

The increase in recovery rate came days after the city recorded its lowest reproduction number in six weeks, with 0.67 from Oct. 7 to 13.

Reproduction refers to the number of people who can get the virus from an infected person.

“As we move closer to the ideal number of 0.50 set by the World Health Organization, this also serves as a sign to further open up the economy, which will help produce jobs and livelihood opportunities for the residents,” Belmonte said.

CESU chief Rolly Cruz urged the residents not to be complacent and continue to follow health and safety protocols as well as self-reporting in case they exhibit symptoms of the virus.

“This is not yet the time to relax. The virus is still there and we need to double or triple our precaution so that we wouldn’t contract COVID-19,” he said.