A NICE summer season is possible for Filipinos this year, according to independent research group OCTA Research.
The group believes that the nation will experience a nice and vibrant summer season this year or the situation will possibly be much safer in the National Capital Region (NCR) beginning March 1.
Dr. Guido David of the OCTA Research Group said during the Laging Handa public briefing said this will be possible if no new COVID-19 variant will emerge.
He said the continued decline in the number of COVID-19 cases is good, except in some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao that are still under high-risk classification but are already showing a decline in cases as well.
Today, David said they recorded a positivity rate of only 6.85 percent, which is already at low risk and quite near the World Health Organization benchmark of 5 percent, while the average daily attack rate in the NCR is only at 3.96 percent.
He noted that yesterday, there were only 485 cases recorded in the NCR, and this is expected to go down further by the end of February, where the number of COVID-19 cases nationwide will further drop to as low as 1,000 to 2,000 cases per day.
David is convinced that these indicators will go down further in the coming weeks as long as mass gatherings are not allowed.
This means safer travel for Filipinos so they can enjoy their summer vacation this year as long as they will strictly adhere to minimum public health standards, observe physical distancing or avoid large crowds and mass gatherings, and vaccination rate is increased.