5 provinces log over 20% COVID-19 positivity rate

MANILA, Philippines — Five provinces have posted “very high” or over 20 percent COVID positivity rate, according to the OCTA Research Group.

Citing data, OCTA Research fellow Guido David yesterday said the province of Aklan in Western Visayas registered a positivity rate of 31.9 percent on July 15, higher than the 26.9 percent recorded six days earlier.

The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people with positive results for COVID out of the total number of individuals tested at a given time.

Based on the benchmark set by the World Health Organization, the positivity rate should be five percent, or lower, of the total number of people tested.

Other provinces with “very high” positivity rate or more than 20 percent as of July 15 are Laguna with 22.5 percent; Nueva Ecija, 22.9; Pampanga, 23.5, and Tarlac with 27.5 percent.

“In provinces where the positivity rate is ‘very high’ like above 20 perent, the public is advised to practice necessary caution to prevent contracting COVID,” David said in a post on Twitter.

He said the positivity rate in the National Capital Region increased from 10.9 percent on July 9 to 12.6 percent on July 15.

On Saturday, OCTA Research said the number of COVID cases in Metro Manila was rising, with the infections projected to peak within seven days.

The Department of Health on Saturday reported 2,578 new cases or over the forecast figure of 2,300.