THE independent OCTA Research yesterday reported the continued decline in positivity rates in 32 out of 36 areas in the country, including the National Capital Region (NCR), during the period August 27 until September 3.
In a social media post, OCTA fellow Guido David said nine areas have shifted from “very high” to “high” classification because of improvement in their positivity rates.
The positivity rate is the percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed that netted positive results. The World Health Organization has set a threshold of 5 percent for positivity rate.
These areas are Cagayan, 19.6% (from 29.7%); Isabela, 19.6%) (from 30.1%); South Cotabato, 19.3% (from 23.1%); Negros Oriental, 19.2 % (from 21.4%); Bohol, 18.5 percent (from 22.7%); Lanao del Norte, 16.9% (from 22.6%); La Union, 16.6% (from 20.1%); Aklan, 15.5% (from 20.7%); and Capiz, 11.4% (from 20.4%).
The provinces of Batangas (9.2% from 10.6%) and Pangasinan (8.9% from 14.1%) also shifted to “moderate” classification from high.
The OCTA said staying at very high classification levels but with dwindling numbers are Camarines Sur (33.5% from 46.7%), Nueva Ecija (31.8% from 42.5%), Tarlac (22.5% 37.3%), and Zamboanga del Sur (20.4% from 21.7%).
Also still having high positivity rates but improving numbers are Leyte (17%), Misamis Oriental (16.7%), Zambales (16.3%), Pampanga (15.4%), Laguna (13.3%), Oriental Mindoro (12.9%), Benguet (12.7%), NCR (12.1%), Rizal (12%), Cavite (11.7%), Ilocos Norte (11.4%), Negros Occidental (10.6%), Bulacan (10.5%), and Quezon (10.1%).
On the other hand, Iloilo (7.2%), Bataan (6.6%), and Cebu (6.2%) stayed at moderate classification despite improving numbers.
Davao del Sur’s positivity rate stayed at a high level of 13.2 percent, while Albay (32.2%) and Palawan (30.8%) registered increases in positivity rate, with both staying at very high classification level.
The classification level of Davao del Norte also shifted from moderate (9.6%) to high (10.4%).
The continued improvement in positivity rates came a day after the Department of Health (DOH) reported that the Luzon area is seeing a “slow downward trend” in COVID-19 cases, while Visayas is on a “plateau”, and Mindanao is “showing signs of plateauing”.
WORKPLACES
With more companies and workplaces resuming full operations, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reminded the private sector to regularly report COVID-19 cases among their employees.
The DOLE said Labor Advisory No. 18-2022 requires all private establishments to report COVID-19 infections among their personnel through their Safety Officers and submit the list of COVID-19 cases and close contacts in their respective workplaces for reporting, including investigation details on sources of transmission.
It added that companies shall submit them alongside the Employers Work Accident/Illness Report (WAIR) through the DOLE Establishment Report System (reports.dole.gov.ph).
The labor advisory similarly reminded all firms to follow the established guidelines of the DOH in relation to COVID-19 testing, quarantine, and isolation response, including the updated guidelines on quarantine, isolation, and testing for COVID 19 response and case management for the Omicron variant; omnibus guidelines on the minimum public health standards for the safe reopening of institutions; and guidelines on ventilation for workplaces and public transport to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19, among others.
“(This is) to promote the safe reopening of the economy and contain the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace,” said DOLE.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent community lockdowns had forced the private sector to shut down workplaces since March 2020.
Since then, workplaces have gradually reopened with the COVID-19 pandemic becoming more manageable and community restrictions easing.
