Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — While the COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region showed signs that it is “decreasing,” several provinces continued to record high numbers, with Isabela posting 67.4%, according to OCTA Research.
OCTA Research fellow Guido David said in a social media post that the rate of people testing positive for the virus in Metro Manila was flat at 25.7% as of May 20 against the 25.4% recorded last May 13. He said this suggests “that it may be decreasing this week.”However, the following provinces recorded higher positivity rates in the past week:Bataan (21.4%)Batangas (36.1%)Benguet (24.7%)Cagayan (21.6%)Camarines Sur (47.9%)La Union (21.1%)Laguna (35.7%)Oriental Mindoro (33.3%)Palawan (22.8%)Pampanga (26.2%)Quezon (43.8%)Zambales (26.6%)Isabela alone saw its positivity rate soared to 67.4% from 36.6% a week earlier.On Sunday, the Department of Health reported additional cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, or Arcturus, pushing the total number to 11.
