Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — The OCTA Research Group said the COVID-19 growth number in the National Capital Region has fallen for the week of March 31 to April 6 but warns it may not show the complete picture.
“The average number of new COVID-19 cases reported per day in the NCR was 5,146 over the past week, with a one week growth rate of just 3%,” OCTA said in its April 7 update.
The reproduction rate has also decreased to 1.43 in the same period, lower compared to the nationwide number of 1.45.
“Negative one-week growth rates were observed in Pasay, Marikina, Makati, Manila, Taguig, Navotas and Mandaluyong, while single digit or less growth rates were observed in Parañaque and Las Piñas,” added OCTA.
However, the research group warned that numbers could still change.
“These figures are still subject to correction factors pending late testing reports due to the recent Holy Week, where testing data decreased by 17% compared to the previous week,” it said in the update.
On Monday, OCTA said based on projections, the country could have a million COVID-19 cases before April ends.
The first week of the hard lockdown over NCR Plus brought slight improvements, but the country will still record 11,000 to 12,000 daily new COVID-19 cases “for the next week or so,” OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said.
He explained the country will first see a decrease in the upward trend before it could achieve the downward trend.
David said he was hopeful the extension of the ECQ for another week would bring the reproduction rate closer to 1.
