Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 6) — Metro Manila might record 10,000 to 11,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, possibly surpassing the capital region’s all-time high of 9,031 infections recorded in September 2021, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said.
The daily positivity rate in Metro Manila also went up to 45%, way above the World Health Organization’s standard of 5% or below.
David added the country is also expected to hit at least 15,000 new cases on Thursday, with the number further going up to 20,000 on Friday — earlier than his previous projection that it could happen starting next week.
The country’s new COVID-19 cases surged to 10,775 on Wednesday, almost twice the number logged the day before. It was the highest single-day rise since Oct. 10, despite nine testing laboratories failing to submit their latest data.
OCTA said cases in the Philippines could peak in mid-January if the country follows the trajectory of South Africa, which was badly impacted by the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, said cases are seen to surpass the Delta variant peak by month end.
