MANILA, Oct 4 (NNN-PNA) – The positivity rate of COVID-19, in the Philippine capital region is “very high,” at 19.1 percent, a health expert warned yesterday, citing official data.
Guido David, a professor at the University of the Philippines and OCTA Research fellow, said, the rate is much higher than the World Health Organisation’s benchmark of five percent.
“We’re noticing a continued uptick in the positivity rate, and so infections are still increasing in Metro Manila and provinces around it,” he said.
The positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the virus, of those who have been tested. The key rate hit a record high of 47.9 percent in Jan, this year.
The Philippines reported 1,967 new COVID-19 infections yesterday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to 3,955,758.
The Department of Health said, the number of active cases dropped to 28,111, while 29 more patients died from COVID-19 complications, pushing the country’s death toll to 63,042.
Metro Manila, the capital region, with over 13 million people, tallied 869 new cases.
David said, the resumption of face-to-face classes, the optional wearing of face masks, waning immunity and high people’s mobility, might be driving the positivity rate. He forecasts a continued increase in the positivity rate.
The Philippines reported its highest COVID-19 single-day tally of 39,004 new cases on Jan 15. The country, with a population of around 110 million, has fully vaccinated over 73.1 million people.– NNN-PNA