NINE provinces in Luzon saw their coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positivity rates climb.

Data released by the independent Octa Research showed that nine of 23 areas in Luzon saw increases in their positivity rates between December 17 and 24.

The nine provinces include Ilocos Sur (30.6 percent to 44.8 percent), Kalinga (26.2 percent to 41.7 percent), Albay (23.3 percent to 35.4 percent), Nueva Ecija (34.3 percent to 34.8 percent), Pampanga (12.5 percent to 17 percent), Quezon (13.4 percent to 15.4 percent), Batangas (8.4 percent to 10.6 percent), Bulacan (8.4 percent to 9.2 percent), and Ilocos Norte (8.2 percent to 8.8 percent).

The National Capital Region (NCR) and 12 Luzon provinces saw their positivity rates decline in a span of one week.

These 12 provinces are Camarines Sur (32.9 percent to 27.3 percent), Rizal (23.8 percent to 23.4 percent), Isabela (39.7 percent to 21.2 percent), Tarlac (23.9 percent to 15 percent), Cagayan (15 percent to 14.3 percent), Bataan (13.8 percent to 12.8 percent), Zambales (14.4 percent to 11.7 percent), Pangasinan (13.3 percent to 11.6 percent), Metro Manila (13.9 percent to 11.5 percent), Cavite (13.2 percent to 10.5 percent), La Union (16.7 percent to 9.7 percent), Benguet (13.6 percent to 8.2 percent), and Mountain Province (11.3 percent to 7.8 percent)

Meanwhile, the positivity rate of Laguna was unmoved at 19 percent.

Earlier, Octa fellow Dr. Guido David said they have a better outlook for the Covid-19 trend in the final weeks of 2022 and the start of 2023.

"We have a good outlook for the coming weeks and early next year," said David in a televised public briefing.

He cited as proof the decline of the Covid-19 positivity rates in majority of the areas they are monitoring.

"We are seeing that the positivity rate in Metro Manila is already going down. Those in several provinces have also started going down. There are only a few of them with increasing positivity rates," said David. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)