THE National Capital Region (NCR) and 12 provinces in Luzon have posted higher positivity rates for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the last seven days, the independent OCTA Research reported yesterday.
Data released by OCTA Research showed the positivity rates in Metro Manila went up to 12.4 percent (December 3) from 11.1 percent (November 26).
On the other hand, Luzon provinces with increasing positivity rates are Nueva Ecija (39.1% from 32.9%), Camarines Sur (38.8% from 27.7%), Ilocos Sur (36.2% from 32.9%), Cagayan (21.4% from 18.2%), Rizal (19.7% from 13.2%), Laguna (19.2% from 13.1%), Pangasinan (16.6% from 16.5%), Quezon (13.3% from 7.2%), Bataan (11.2% from 9.7%), Ilocos Norte (11.1% from 7.8%), Zambales (10.7% 6.1%), and Pampanga (10.6% from 8.3%).
On the other hand, 10 other areas in Luzon registered lower positivity rates compared to a week ago.
They are Isabela (38.6% from 44.4%), Tarlac (25.3% from 36.5%), Albay (23.7% from 28.5%), Benguet (22.6% from 27%), Kalinga (20.8% from 23.7%), La Union (20.4% from 22%), Cavite (11.6% from 11.7% to), Mountain Province (11% from 15.4%), Bulacan (6.8% from 7.6%), and Batangas (5.2% from 5.4%).
The World Health Organization has set a threshold of 5 percent for positivity rate for COVID-19.
In a radio interview, OCTA fellow Guido David said the current jump in positivity rates are likely driven by the Omicron subvariant BQ.1, which was recently detected in the country.
“We think that this is being driven by the Omicron BQ.1 that has been detected in the Philippines. We have been seeing increases in positivity rates in several parts of the country,” said David.
He said the NCR, in particular, is already nearing the peak positivity rates amid the latest uptick in cases.
“The rise in positivity rates in the NCR is already slowing down. Hopefully, we can already see the positivity rate in the NCR peaking within the next few weeks,” said David.
On the other hand, he said the climbing positivity rates may just be starting in other provinces.
CASE BULLETIN
While the positivity rates in the NCR and several provinces are going up, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the number of new COVID-19 cases reported daily over the past seven days remains near the 1,000-mark.
Based on its COVID-19 case bulletin, there is an average of 1,104 cases daily for the period of November 28 to December 4, or a total of 7,731 infections.
“This is 4 percent lower than cases reported from November 21 to 27,” said the DOH, which noted last week’s reported daily cases of 1,147 for the period of November 21 to 27.
The DOH has earlier projected that daily cases may range from 1,114 to as high as 2,294 by the end of December if public compliance to minimum health standards drops due to mass gathering celebrations for the holiday season.
On the other hand, the DOH said cases may drop to less than 500 per day in case the public adheres to health protocols.
HOSPITAL BEDS
The DOH case bulletin showed there were two additional severe and critical case during the past week, while 134 deaths were reported.
There are currently 595 severe and critical cases in the country, as of December 4, of which 534 are occupying ICU beds, or 22.1 percent of the 2,413 total ICU beds nationwide.
On the other hand, there are 5,177 patients who are occupying COVID-19 beds, or 25.3 percent of the 20,452 total COVID-19 beds allocated nationwide.
