Cebu City now ‘very low risk’ for COVID-19

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City is now classified as ”very low risk” for COVID-19, according to the OCTA Research Group.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), OCTA said the city has recorded an average of 18 daily new cases from Oct. 20 to 26, down 18 percent from the preceding week.

The city recorded an average daily attack rate (ADAR) or daily new infections per 100,000 people of 1.72.

OCTA said all other indicators, including reproduction number, healthcare utilization and positivity rate, are at safe levels.

The group clarified that its classification does not reflect the alert level rating used by the DOH and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Cebu City is the only area in the so-called NCR Plus Eight, which has been classified as very low risk.

OCTA said Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Batangas and Davao City are at low risk for COVID while Laguna and Pampanga are at moderate risk.

The seven other areas have moderate ADAR and low infection rates. They also have low healthcare utilization, except Rizal and Pampanga with critical intensive care unit utilization rate of 94 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

Laguna and Pampanga have high positivity rate, which indicates the number of those found infected out of the tests conducted.

Cebu City Councilor and Emergency Operations Center deputy chief implementer Joel Garganera said their sacrifices have paid off.

He urged the public to continue to be mindful of their actions even as he reminded business establishments and offices to continue to enforce minimum health protocols. – Caecent Magsumbol/The Freeman