THE Octa Research group said on Wednesday, January 19, that the growth rate of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in several highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) outside Metro Manila Plus is “accelerating.”

Octa fellow Dr. Guido David said this is happening despite the slowing down of Covid-19 cases in the Metro Manila Plus areas, which include the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

He said the cities of Bacolod, Dagupan, General Santos, Lapu-Lapu, Lucena, Naga and Santiago logged a Covid-19 growth rate of over 100 percent from January 12 to 18, 2022.

The cities of Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Zamboanga recorded over 200 percent growth rate over the past week.

Cebu City’s growth rate was at 378 percent during the said period, while Davao City’s was at 305 percent.

The Octa recorded the highest growth rate increase over the past week in Tacloban City with 469 percent increase.

It said Cebu City and Tacloban had the highest reproduction rate of 4.51 and 4.59, respectively.

The research group added that the Covid-19 average daily attack rate (Adar) in Baguio City was “severe” at 130.56, while it was high in the cities of Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Olongapo and Zamboanga.

General Santos City’s Adar was moderate at 9.42.

The other cities -- Angeles, Cebu, Dagupan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Lucena, Naga, Santiago and Tacloban -- were at very high.

On Thursday, January 20, the Octa said the reproduction number in the National Capital Region decreased steeply to 1.79 from 4.24 last week, while the weekly growth rate became negative for the first time since December 24, 2021. (SunStar Philippines)