LAGUNA and Pampanga remain as the two areas in the National Capital Region Plus Eight (NCR+8) that are under “moderate risk” classification for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), data from the OCTA Research indicate.
In its latest monitoring report, OCTA said Laguna and Pampanga continue to have high positivity rates of 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
“Once the positivity rate drops to 10%, Laguna and Pampanga will likely be classified low risk as well,” said the group monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country.
Their average daily attack rates (ADARs), however, are already at moderate risk, with Laguna at 3.07 and Pampanga at 3.50 per 100,000 population.
OCTA also noted that the reproduction numbers of Laguna and Pampanga are at “low risk” at 0.36 and 0.51, respectively.
Meanwhile, the group said the areas of NCR, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Batangas, and Davao City are now classified as low risk.
It said the infection rate in NCR is already at 0.52, Rizal at 0.48, Cavite at 0.36, Bulacan at 0.48, Batangas at 0.40, and Davao City at 0.49.
The average daily attack rates of the six areas are all at moderate risk, with NCR at 6.73, Rizal at 4.33, Cavite at 3.26, Bulacan at 3.48, Batangas at 2.59, and Davao City at 4.62.
For their positivity rates, NCR (6%), Rizal (9%), Bulacan (9%), Batangas (10%), and Davao City (10%) are at moderate risk, while Cavite (5%) is at low risk.
OCTA said Cebu City is now classified as “very low risk” from COVID-19, pointing out that its reproduction rate has gone down to 0.42, ADAR at 1.72, and positivity rate at 2 percent.
The NCR+8 areas have been determined by the government to be the most populous and are at greatest risk for COVID-19 transmission. It is composed of NCR, Cebu City, Davao City, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Rizal.
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday advised local government units (LGUs) planning to scrap their swab test requirements to instead resort to clinical and exposure screening methods to help “identify up to 90 percent of suspected COVID-19 cases.”
In a televised public briefing, DOH – Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman said it would not be enough to simply present vaccination certificates among arriving tourists and stressed that local authorities should check their tourists if they have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 to avoid the unintended spread of the coronavirus.
“Our recommendation is for them to have clinical and exposure screening. The Department of Health believes that clinical and exposure screening at our borders is very important,” De Guzman said.
Several LGUs have removed their RT-PCR or antigen testing requirements for the entry of tourists and other travelers, among them Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Bohol, Maguindanao, Negros Oriental, Pagadian City, Bacolod City, Tacloban City, Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Roxas City, Mandaue City, and Cebu City.
METRO MANILA
Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya yesterday said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is ready to implement Alert Level 2 in the National Capital Region should the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decide to downgrade the current Alert Level 3 classification of the region.
Malaya said the department is expecting a downgrade in NCR’s alert level next month because of the positive trend in its fight against the pandemic.
“We are prepared because the alert level system has been discussed for a long time with our Metro Manila mayors and with the other government agencies that implement quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region,” said Malaya.
An alert level system of quarantine has been in effect in NCR since September 16, paving the way for more economic activities. NCR initially went under Alert Level 4 from September 16 to October 15 and was downgraded to Alert Level 3 last October 16 until October 31.
“We have a lot of discussions with our Metro Manila mayors about it (alert level system) and we at the DILG and the Philippine National Police are prepared to implement the new regulations once the decision is made to go to a lower alert level,” said Malaya.
“I would expect (an alert level downgrade) maybe in the next month because next week is already November, so anytime because I can see the consistency in our data, the decrease in our cases has been very dramatic, we are looking at 48 percent decline in new cases the past two weeks… If this trend continues then we can really look forward to a lowering of the alert level very soon,” he added.
Citing regulations earlier set by the IATF, Malaya said allowed capacity in establishments may be increased to 70 percent (outdoor venue capacity) and 50 percent (for indoor venue capacity) under Alert Level 2, from the current 50 percent and 30 percent, respectively, under Alert Level 3.
Malaya also said there are initial discussions in the technical working level of the IATF to allow entry to minors in malls and dine in at restaurants under a lower alert level status as long as they are accompanied by adults.
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar assured the public that the PNP will continue to enforce minimum public health standards and safety protocols should NCR be downgraded to Alert Level 2.
“We will not only be enforcing health protocols but we will also enhance crime prevention efforts,” added Eleazar, noting that eased restrictions means more people will be going outside and more persons for criminals to possibly prey on.
Data from the PNP showed a total of 113,602 quarantine violators were accosted from October 16 to last Wednesday during the implementation of Alert Level 3 in NCR.
Of the number, 84,819 were accosted for violation of the minimum public health standards that mandates wearing of face mask, face shield in crowded in areas, and observance of physical distancing.
The PNP said 28,171 were caught for curfew violation and 612 were caught accosted for going out of their residence when they are not members of Authorized Persons Outside Residence or non-APORs.
Of the total violators, 64,455 were merely warned, 40,912 were fined and 8,235 were brought to the police stations for filing of charges.
Meanwhile, the PNP said 74 areas in 53 barangays within seven local government units in the NCR are under granular lockdown as of Wednesday. These lockdowns are manned by 288 policemen and 236 force multipliers of barangay personnel.
About 320 households, composed of 1,110 individuals are affected by the localized lockdowns.
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) yesterday said it would increase to 2,000 to 2,200 the number of public utility buses that it would deploy this weekend to accommodate travelers who would be going home to their provinces to commemorate the “Undas” with their families.
PITX Corporate Affairs and Government Relations head Jayson Salvador, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said they expect the number of passengers this weekend to go up to between 60,000 to 65,000 from the current 50,000 to 55,000 per day. — With Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
