‘COVID-19 cases rising in cities outside Metro Manila’

MANILA, Philippines — An increase in new COVID-19 cases has been noted in highly urbanized cities outside Metro Manila, the OCTA Research Group said yesterday.

OCTA fellow Guido David said the outbreak appears to be in “mature” or middle to peak stage in Baguio, Angeles in Pampanga and Santiago in Isabela.

The outbreak classification is the second highest used by OCTA after the “severe” that it declared in the National Capital Region.

Baguio and Santiago had earlier been placed under the stricter Alert Level 3.

Citing data from the Department of Health, David said the three cities have “critical” reproduction numbers and “very high” average daily attack rate (ADAR) per 100,000 people.

In terms of reproduction number, which indicates the number of people that a positive person can infect, Angeles recorded the highest with 5.59 followed by Baguio with 4.92 and Santiago, 4.81.

On the number of daily new infections per 100,000 people, Baguio has an ADAR of 39.48 followed by Angeles with 26.65 and Santiago, 25.23.

OCTA said the ADAR in Metro Manila is “critical,” with 111.8 daily new infections per 100,000 people and reproduction number of 4.23.

Meanwhile, David said new COVID cases in Naga, Dagupan, Lucena, Olongapo, Iloilo and Lapu-Lapu are in ”accelerating” stage.

He said Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao are in the early stages of a possible outbreak.

The alert level in the three cities was raised to 3 starting today until Jan. 31.

OCTA had earlier noted an increase in new cases in areas outside NCR, which are experiencing the worst surge since the start of the pandemic.

David said the cities of Bacolod, Zamboanga and General Santos, which have low reproduction number, were not included in the latest OCTA report.