THE National Capital Region (NCR) continues to see an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, recording a 51 percent jump in just one week, the independent OCTA Research Team said yesterday.
In its latest monitoring report, the OCTA said the NCR averaged 3,262 new cases per day during the period August 9 to 15.
Metro Manila recorded an average of 2,163 cases daily from August 2 to 8.
The OCTA said the one-week incidence rate or average daily attack rate (ADAR) was 23.36 per day per 100,000, putting the NCR under high risk from COVID-19.
The positivity rate in Metro Manila is also at 20 percent, said OCTA.
The group also said 12 of the 17 local government units (LGUs) in the NCR are at critical risk from COVID-19 due to their high attack rates.
The 12 are Navotas (44.72 ADAR), Makati (39.25), Pateros (39.02), San Juan (36.23), Pasay (31.88), Muntinlupa (29.61), Mandaluyong (27.21), Valenzuela (26.75), Parañaque (26.59), Malabon (26.24), Pasig (26.12), and Las Piñas (25.99).
The remaining five LGUs in Metro Manila are under high risk classification also due to their high average daily attack rates. These are Taguig (23.48), Manila (21.70), Quezon City (19.38), Caloocan (13.91), and Marikina (12.48).
“Rapid one-week growth rates were observed in Navotas, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, Las Piñas, and Valenzuela,” the OCTA added.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Department of Health (DOH) is expecting to see more cases to be reported in the coming days despite the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
“We are not yet going to see the effects of these restrictions that we are implementing now,” said Vergeire, adding: “After the ECQ, we wait for about two to three weeks before we can see the initial effects of these restrictions.”
Vergeire said this was the country’s experience during the previous imposition of strict lockdowns.
It can be recalled that the NCR Plus area was placed under ECQ back in late March to mid-April.
“When cases increased back in March and April, cases only went down sometime in early part of May. Hospitals also got decongested only towards the end of May. That is how it is because there is this incubation period of the virus,” Vergeire said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said it would take about two weeks, or even longer, after the imposition of the ECQ for its impact to be felt.
“Our objective is total health — reduce the cases without increasing the number of those who are hungry… We know that it takes about two weeks before the ECQ can be felt,” he said.
Vergeire said the continued rise in cases is due to rampant violations of minimum health protocols.
“People continue to go out and have interactions. Therefore, disease transmission isn’t being cut off. There are also a lot of violations of the minimum health standards. The people aren’t complying. Thus, we expect cases to continue to increase,” she said.
She also pointed at the presence of more transmissible variants of COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant.
The Metro Manila Council is set to meet today to discuss its recommendation on the next quarantine status of the capital region, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said yesterday.
Abalos said that aside form the Metro mayors, health and economic experts will also be joining the meeting.
Meanwhile, Roque said that as of August 15, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has reported that it has already released 29.31 percent of the national government’s financial assistance for those affected by the ECQ in Metro Manila, or P3.299 billion of the P11.256 billion released cash aid. — With Noel Talacay and Jocelyn Montemayor
