NCR positivity rate at 9.8%, up in 14 other provinces — OCTA

MANILA — OCTA Research, an independent pandemic monitor, said late Wednesday evening that one out of ten Covid-19 tests in Metro Manila now turn out positive.

The positivity rate of the National Capital Region increased from 8.3 percent to 9.8 percent between July 2 and July 5, according to data collected by OCTA. This rate is almost twice as high as the World Health Organization’s benchmark of 5% for re-opening economies. 

This, after the capital region recorded 553 new cases on Wednesday based on the data from the Department of Health. 

Cases of coronavirus continue to increase in Antique, Laguna, and Rizal, with respective positivity rates of 20.6 percent, 17.3 percent, and 16.5 percent. 

Batangas, Cavite, Iloilo, and Pampanga also registered higher than 10% positivity rates.

Only Cebu remains at low-risk levels among the 15 provinces observed by OCTA, as its positivity rate increased from 3.8% to 3.9% from July 2 to July 5.

According to the health department’s Covid-19 nationwide situation report on Tuesday night, Metro Manila also recorded the highest weekly positivity rate of 9.3 percent as of July 3.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to designate the next secretary of the Department of Health to lead the national government’s pandemic response. 

“Sustained case uptrend is observed in most regions with majority (91%) of provinces, HUCs (highly urbanized cities), and ICCs (independent component cities) showing case increases over the recent weeks,” the DOH said earlier.

“Most areas show a sharp increase in cases with NCR showing the steepest increase, now exceeding 500 cases per day,” it added.