NCR daily Covid-19 average up 19% in recent week: OCTA

MANILA – The daily average of new Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region increased by 19 percent for the week of May 13 to 19 compared to the previous week, the OCTA Research Group said Friday.

In a tweet, OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David said NCR’s seven-day average of new cases for May 13 to 19 is 71 which is 12 cases higher compared to that of May 6 to 12 at 59.

“Its one-week average daily attack rate increased from 0.42 to 0.50 but remained very low, less than one. The reproduction number increased to 0.90 which is moderate from 0.76 which is low,” David said.

NCR’s positivity rate remained at 1.2 percent.

In a Viber message, the Department of Health (DOH) said that while cases in the NCR in the recent one week are slightly higher by 71 (17 percent) from the previous week, its two-week growth rate remains negative at -17 percent and its average daily attack rate is at 0.47 cases per 100,000 population as of May 19. “With these metrics, NCR remains at minimal risk case classification,” the DOH said.

A slight increase in cases was also noted but this does not translate into increases in admissions or utilization rates which remain at low risk, ranging from 19 to 23 percent of total and intensive care unit beds in the NCR, the DOH added.

“Let’s likewise get vaccinated and boosted for the added protection it provides against the Covid-19 virus. New Covid-19 virus variants may emerge and may cause a spike in cases if immunity is not secured through vaccination and boosters,” it said.