FROM a “critical” 1.47 COVID-19 reproduction rate in the National Capital Region (NCR), it rose further to 2.19, according to an independent research group on Friday.
This is the highest reproduction rate in the region since July of last year, according to OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David.
“The reproduction number may be controlled by complying with minimum public health protocols and reducing social and mass gatherings,” David said.
David also reported an increase to 20 percent in the number of occupied COVID-19 hospital beds in NCR from the previous 16 percent.
On the other hand, the number of occupied ICU beds also rose to 24 percent from 20 percent.
However, David said these numbers in the occupancy rate is still below the threshold level.
The Philippine General Hospital recently reported a slight rise in it occupancy rate, which may be pointed to the increased mobility during the holiday season and the threat posed by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the deadly disease.
The NCR and the rest of the country remains under Alert Level 2, as announced by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF.
The Department of Health reported 2,961 new COVID-19 cases today, Friday, almost double from the 1,623 cases reported on Thursday.