14 of 17 Metro Manila LGUs now low risk – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines — Most local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila are now considered as “low risk” based on various indicators on the COVID-19 situation, the OCTA Research Group said yesterday.

In its latest monitoring report, OCTA said only three out of 17 LGUs in the region – Mandaluyong, San Juan and Valenzuela – remain under “moderate risk” due to high average daily attack rate (ADAR) of over 10 daily new infections per 100,000 population.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), the group said Valenzuela had an ADAR of 11.15; San Juan had 10.57 and Mandaluyong had 10.50.

The rest of the LGUs in Metro Manila were tagged as “low risk” and have “moderate” ADARs of less than 10 daily new infections per 100,000 people.

According to OCTA, the entire Metro Manila may also be classified as “low risk” following continuing improvements in COVID-19 indicators.

From Oct. 19 to 25, it recorded an average of 901 daily new cases, down 36 percent from the preceding week.

It has a moderate ADAR of 6.36 and a reproduction number of 0.49. Healthcare and intensive care unit (ICU) utilization are also at a low 35 percent and 46 percent, respectively.

The positivity rate, which indicates the number of positive results out of the total tests conducted, is at a “moderate” six percent, one point above the ideal five percent or less.

Across 17 LGUs, all other indicators were tagged as low, except in Muntinlupa and Makati with ICU rates of “high” 75 percent and “moderate” 61 percent, respectively.

OCTA fellows earlier projected a “merry” Christmas season following the continuing decline in COVID-19 new cases in Metro Manila and other areas.

DOH data also showed the number of reported cases in the metropolis decreased by 35 percent as of Oct. 24 compared to the previous seven days.

From Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, the average daily recorded cases was pegged at 3,134, but this figure went down to 1,978 cases from Oct. 4 to 10 and to 1,145 from Oct. 11 to 17. From Oct. 18 to 24, the daily tally was at 945.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire warned against complacency, saying the trend can easily reverse when health and safety protocols are ignored.

She called on the public to strictly observe health protocols while in crowded places, close-contact settings and confined and enclosed spaces.

Vergeire added that vaccination should be ramped up, especially among the elderly and people with comorbidities. – Sheila Crisostomo