COVID-19 reproduction rate in Metro Manila slows to 1.91

MANILA, Philippines — The reproduction rate of COVID-19 in Metro Manila dropped to 1.91 on Wednesday from 1.99 the previous day, the OCTA Research Group reported yesterday.

The group, however, said it is too early to tell if the decrease in the infection rate of COVID-19 could be the start of the downward trend of new cases in the National Capital Region.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the region averaged 3,804 per day in the past seven days, an increase of 61 percent from the preceding week.

The hospital occupancy rate also increased, with the intensive care unit capacity for COVID-19 patients breaching the critical threshold of 70 percent.

The total bed capacity for COVID-19 patients in Metro Manila reached 61 percent, according to OCTA.

The daily attack rate, which measures the number of positive individuals per 100,000 population, also increased to 27.2 from 25.9.

The group earlier expressed hope that COVID-19 cases may start to slow down following the implementation of stricter health measures such as the travel bubble imposed in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

OCTA said a decreasing trend, if it happens, may reduce the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country to 6,200 per day in four weeks.

Top barangays

Citing data from the Department of Health, OCTA said Barangay Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City posted the most number of new COVID-19 cases with 342, from March 18 to 24.

It was followed by Barangays 76 and 183 in Pasay with 309 and 251 cases, respectively; Pio Del Pilar in Makati with 240; Commonwealth and Batasan Hills in Quezon City with 194 and 180, respectively, and San Antonio in Makati with 173.

Completing the top 10 are Barangays BF Homes in Parañaque with 170 cases and Holy Spirit and Culiat in Quezon City with 168 and 166 cases, respectively.

Outside Metro Manila, Barangay San Isidro in Cainta, Rizal recorded the most number of new infections with 164.