Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9) — The COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila went up anew last week, but the trend is already “slowing down,” a member of OCTA Research said on Tuesday.
OCTA Research fellow Guido David said the positivity rate in the capital region inched up to 22.9% as of May 7, higher than 17.8% recorded last April 30. Positivity rate refers to the number of people testing positive for COVID-19.
While the region is at high risk for COVID-19, David said the “increasing trend is slowing down.”
He noted that the peak may happen “within the next week or so,” but it might not reach the 25% mark.
David told CNN Philippines on Thursday that Metro Manila’s positivity rate may reach the same level as the Delta wave this week.
He noted that his team recorded a 25% positivity rate in NCR back in 2021 during the Delta wave. The region’s highest positivity rate was at over 50%, witnessed during the first Omicron wave in January 2022.
The OCTA fellow also believed that while there was a rise in cases, hospitals would not be overwhelmed as the cases were not severe.
On Monday, the Department of Health reported that the Philippines logged 9,465 new COVID-19 cases from May 1 to 7. Of the new infections, 50 are in critical condition.
