Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) — The country’s capital region continues to be the epicenter of the pandemic as it is now at “critical risk” for COVID-19 transmission, Health Sec. Francisco Duque said.
During a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, the Health chief reported that Metro Manila has been recording a surge in COVID-19 cases with a whopping 1,475% two-week growth rate.
The region’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) also ballooned to 8.79.
“Ang pinakamalaking pagtaas ng kaso ay nakita sa NCR [kaya] nasa critical risk case, pinakamataas na risk classification,” Duque said.
[Translation: The largest jump in cases was seen in NCR (hence) it is under critical risk case, the highest risk classification.]
Duque also noted that Regions 4A (Calabarzon) and 3 (Central Luzon) have also been posting a surge in COVID numbers.
Region 4A, he said, is now under “high risk” after it recorded a 557% two-week growth rate.
Region 3, meanwhile, is classified as “moderate risk” for coronavirus transmission with its two-week growth rate jumping to 339%.
The Philippines remains at “high risk” due to increasing infections. Duque said the country’s average number of daily COVID-19 cases over the Dec. 29 to Jan. 4 period was nearly nine times higher than the average logged the week before.
