INDEPENDENT monitoring group OCTA Research said the reproduction number of COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR) is now at 1.5 to 1.6.
The reproduction number represents the number of people that may contract the disease from a COVID-19 positive individual.
During the Laging Handa public briefing, OCTA Fellow Dr. Guido David said there is a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the NCR and some parts of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and in Pampanga, Benguet and Western Visayas.
However, he immediately emphasized the increase was a very small number and is not alarming unlike before where the increase reaches thousands of cases.
They are also expecting a mini or weak surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in some parts of the country in the next two weeks or during the second and third week of July, and a downward trend will then follow.
This is due to the expected slight increase in COVID-19 will be caused by the transmission of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, and also because of waning immunity. This is why Dr. David reiterated the importance of booster shots against COVID-19, wearing of face masks, and compliance with minimum public health standards.
Meanwhile, Dr. David said positivity rate is now at 8.3 percent from six percent. while average daily attack rate (ADAR) is at an average of 3.6 percent, which is lower than the 6-percent cut off set by the Department of Health, although there are local government units in the NCR where ADAR is at 6 percent.
Health care utilization rate in NCR remains at a very low level, which is at 22 up to 23 percent only.
Likewise, Dr. David suggested that the new administration create an advisory group and continue monitoring of COVID-19 cases, establish more health infrastructures and appoint a new Department of Health secretary who is nationalistic and would work for the benefit of the Filipino.