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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11) — The COVID-19 situation in the National Capital Region continues to see a steady improvement, which means its risk classification could be downgraded next month, OCTA Research said.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Monday told CNN Philippines the seven-day average daily cases in Metro Manila has dropped below 2,000 — the first time since the strictest enhanced community quarantine was enforced over the region in August.
He said cases could go below 1,000 per day in Metro Manila before the end of October since the reproduction number is only at 0.63 now.
“We have already reversed the trend in NCR down to even before ECQ was implemented,” David said.
OCTA said if the encouraging trend is sustained over Metro Manila, it is possible that the capital region will be classified as low-risk area by November, so the alert level system could be lowered.
The alert level determined by the Department of Health is based on the risk classification and hospital utilization rate. Metro Manila is under moderate risk and on Alert Level 4 until Oct. 15.
The DOH has acknowledged that there was a decline in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Metro Manila.
David said businesses could expect a better Christmas season.
“We think that if the projections hold and the situation opens up even further by November, gatherings would be possible like Christmas because we are not seeing a credible threat outside the country,” he said.
Following the observations of DOH and OCTA that the COVID-19 situation in NCR is improving, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion urged downgrading the region to Alert Level 2 or 3.
“We can downgrade to Alert Level 2 or Alert Level 3 with 50 percent capacity and reopen the cinema and wellness industry,” he said.
With the improving situation in Metro Manila and nearby regions, David said authorities should shift the focus and resources to addressing the rising cases in Northern Luzon, Zamboanga, Bacolod.
