‘No more province at high risk for COVID-19’

MANILA, Philippines — No province is now considered at high or critical risk for COVID-19, the OCTA Research Group reported yesterday.

In its latest national update, OCTA said Negros Oriental was downgraded from high to moderate risk due to a decrease in new COVID-19 cases.

The province recorded an average of 72 daily new cases from Nov. 11 to 17, down four percent compared to the preceding week.

Negros Oriental had the highest average number of daily new cases during the same period.

While the hospital bed capacity in the province is now moderate, OCTA said Negros Oriental still has a high intensive care unit utilization rate of 75 percent.

The positivity rate or the number of those found infected among those tested remains critical at 30 percent.

Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan and Oriental Mindoro, which recorded the highest average number of new cases in the past week, are now classified as moderate risk.

Metro Manila, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Benguet, South Cotabato, Pangasinan, Iloilo and Batangas are now considered low risk for COVID-19.

OCTA said Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Davao del Sur, Cebu and Laguna are now ”very low risk.”

The group said it uses indicators based on covidactnow.org and data from the Department of Health.

OCTA clarified that its classification is independent and does not reflect the alert level ratings used by the government.

Zero cases

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, eight towns and two cities now have zero active cases.

In a report on Wednesday night, the provincial health office said Agno, Alcala, Anda, Balungao, Dasol, Infanta, Mabini and Sto. Tomas and the cities of Dagupan and Alaminos recorded no new cases.

Binalonan, Mapandan, San Manuel, Sual and Urbiztondo each logged only one active case.

Thirty other areas in the province, where 12 to three active cases were recorded, are under the watchlist of the provincial health office.

These are Bolinao, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Lingayen, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Bani, Binmaley, Aguilar, Mangatarem, Rosales, Basista, San Nicolas, Sison, Labrador, Pozorrubio, San Fabian, Urdaneta, Bugallon, San Carlos, San Jacinto, Asingan, Laoac, Mangaldan, San Quintin, Bautista, Manaoag, Natividad, Tayug and Villasis.

Pangasinan logged 25 new cases and four deaths yesterday, bringing the active infections to 125.

There are 210 active cases in the province. – Eva Visperas