FOR the first time since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hit the country in March last year, the National Capital Region (NCR) is seeing less than 100 new daily cases.
In its latest COVID-19 Monitoring Report, the independent OCTA Research said that the seven-day average cases in Metro Manila is down to only 91 as of December 6 to 12.
“The 7-day average in the NCR decreased to less than 100 for the first time since March 22 to 28, 2020,” the OCTA said.
The latest one-week average is 18 percent lower than the 112 average daily cases during the period of November 29 to December 5.
As for the other indicators, OCTA said the reproduction number slightly went up at 0.39 from the 0.35 a week ago but remained at “very low” classification.
The average daily attack rate (ADAR), meanwhile, decreased further to 0.64 per 100,000 population, compared to 0.79 a week earlier.
The group also reported that the region’s positivity rate went down to 0.9 percent, from the 1.1 percent the previous week.
The OCTA report also showed that on the overall, the NCR is at very low risk from COVID-19.
Thirteen of its 17 local government units are similarly at very low risk classification. These are Pateros, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Marikina, Pasig, Navotas, Valenzuela, San Juan, Manila, Pasay, and Taguig,
The remaining four NCR LGUs — Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Malabon, and Makati — are at “low risk” classification.
Vaccine expert panel Dr. Rontgene Solante yesterday said health experts are in favor of extending the current Alert Level 2 in the NCR and other parts of the country until the end of December amid the uncertainties over the Omicron variant.
“The threat of the Omicron variant is still there, so we want Alert level 2 extended until the end of month, until such time that we can get better information about the Omicron variant,” Solante said in an interview with ABS CBN’s Teleradyo.
He added that with the holiday celebrations, more people are likely to go out and have mass gatherings such as parties and reunions, which can be expected if restrictions are eased or lifted.
Solante reminded the public that despite the declining COVID-19 cases, there are still other variants like the Delta, which is so far the most severe among the many variants of the coronavirus. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
