OCTA: COVID-19 cases still very high in 6 provinces  

MANILA, Philippines — While the number of people who tested positive for COVID has decreased nationwide, the positivity rate in six provinces is still considered “very high,” according to the OCTA Research group.

Data as of Sept. 3 showed that positivity rate remained very high in Camarines Sur, with 33.5 percent; Albay, 32.2 percent; Nueva Ecija, 31.8 percent; Palawan, 30.8 percent; Zamboanga del Sur, 20.4 percent, and Tarlac, 22.5 percent.

Except in Albay and Palawan, where the positivity rate increased from 21.2 percent and 23.7 percent, respectively, on Aug. 27, all other provinces reported a decline in the number of those found infected.

Many other provinces monitored by OCTA reported a drop in positivity rate, although it remained “high” or above 10 percent.

In Luzon, these are Cagayan, with 19.6 percent; La Union, 16.6 percent; Zambales, 16.3 percent; Pampanga, 15.4 percent; Laguna, 13.3 percent; Oriental Mindoro, 12.9 percent; Benguet, 12.7 percent; Rizal, 12 percent; Cavite, 11.7 percent; Ilocos Norte, 11.4 percent; Isabela, 10.6 percent; Bulacan, 10.5 percent, and Quezon, 10.1 percent.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, among the provinces with high positivity rates are Negros Oriental, with 19.2 percent; South Cotabato, 19.3 percent; Bohol, 18.5 percent; Leyte, 17 percent; Lanao del Norte, 16.9 percent; Misamis Oriental, 16.7 percent, and Aklan, 15.5 percent.

Davao del Sur logged a positivity rate of 13.2 percent; Capiz, 11.4 percent; Davao del Norte, 10.4 percent, and Negros Occidental, 10.6 percent.

Provinces with moderate positivity rate or  less than 10 percent but above the recommended five percent are Batangas, with 9.2 percent; Pangasinan, 8.9 percent; Iloilo, 7.2 percent; Cebu, 6.2 percent, and Bataan, 6.6 percent.

OCTA said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region remained high at 12.1 percent as of Sept. 3 even though it is lower compared to the 12.9 percent recorded on Aug. 27.