THE number of new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Metro Manila is decreasing at a “slow rate,” Octa Research said on Saturday, August 27, 2022.

Octa Research Fellow Doctor Guido David said the seven-day testing positivity rate in the country’s capital decreased to 13.6 percent, as of August 25, from 14.7 percent on August 18. The average daily attack rate, on the other hand, was at 6.96 per 100,000 population and the one-week growth rate was at -9 percent.

The reproduction number in Metro Manila dropped below 1 at .99, as of August 23, from 1.02 on August 16.

“The last time the reproduction number was less than one was on May 11, 2022. A reproduction number below 1 indicates infections are trending downward,” said David.

“However, as noted before, new cases in the NCR are decreasing at a slow rate. With the current pace, it could take eight weeks before the positivity rate decreases to less than five percent (low positivity rate based on World Health Organization). Also with the current pace, new cases in the NCR are expected to decrease to less than 600 by the end of September,” he added.

The healthcare utilization for intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU in the said region has also dropped to 27 and 35 percent from 31 and 37 percent, respectively, on August 25.

As of August 27, the country had a total Covid-19 caseload of 3,872,405 cases with 29,807 active cases and 61,613 deaths. (SunStar Philippines)