Negros Oriental still high risk for COVID-19 – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Oriental may still be considered at “high risk” for COVID-19 due to increasing number of cases and high hospitalization rate, according to the OCTA Research Group.

While most areas in the country have reported fewer COVID cases, OCTA said there was a 14 percent increase or an average of 89 daily new infections in Negros Oriental from Nov. 6 to 12.

The province also recorded high hospital bed and intensive care unit utilization rate at 74 percent and 81 percent, respectively.

The positivity rate or the number of those found infected out of those tested was critical at 28 percent.

Among the provinces with the highest average number of new cases in the past week, nine are at ”moderate risk.”

OCTA said these are Isabela, Negros Occidental, Benguet, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Camarines Sur, South Cotabato, Mountain Province and Palawan.

Aside from Negros Oriental, South Cotabato and Mountain Province have recorded spikes in average daily new cases.

Rizal, Zamboanga del Sur and Pangasinan were classified as low risk.

OCTA said Metro Manila, which recorded an average of 426 daily new cases, was also classified as low risk.

Cavite, Bulacan, Davao del Sur, Laguna, Pampanga and Cebu are at “very low risk.”