OCTA says cases also rising in Metro
FIVE provinces have registered increases in their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positivity rates, jumping to more than 20 percent, the independent research group OCTA said yesterday.
Positivity rate is defined as the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested for the presence of the virus.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Aklan registered the highest positivity rate, reaching 31.9 percent on July 15, from 26.9 percent on July 9.
The four other provinces which registered jumps in their positivity rates are Tarlac with 27.5 percent, Pampanga with 23.5 percent, Nueva Ecija with 22.9 percent, and Laguna with 22.55 percent.
David said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) rose to 12.6, also on July 15, from 10.9 percent.
Aside from Metro Manila, David said the provinces of Antique, Bataan, Bulacan, Capiz, Cavite, Iloilo, Isabela, Pangasinan and Rizal also recorded positivity rates of over 10 percent.
David appealed to the public to strictly adhere to health protocols, especially the wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing when in public spaces, to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 cases.
“In provinces where the positivity rate is very high, above 20 percent, the public is strongly advised to practice necessary caution to prevent COVID infection,” David said in a tweet.
The Department of Health on Saturday registered 2,578 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily tally since February this year, bringing to 18,990 the number of active cases throughout the country.
In the recent two weeks, the DOH has registered 9,294 new cases in Metro Manila, followed by 5,057 in Calabarzon; 2,092 in Central Luzon; 2,055 in Western Visayas, and 863 in Central Visayas.
