THE independent OCTA Research group yesterday said coronavirus disease (COVID-19) positivity rates in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Luzon provinces remain at “high” and “very high” levels even as some are already seeing declining numbers.
Oriental Mindoro has a very high positivity rate of 55.6 percent as of May 27, from 33.3 percent in May 20.
OCTA said nine provinces have also recorded increasing positivity results, and these Quezon (46.2% from 43.8%), Bataan (38.4% from 21.4%), Palawan (29.8% from 22.8%), Benguet (28.3% from 24.7%), Cagayan (27.6% from 21.6%), Pampanga (26.9% from 26.2%), La Union (24.5% from 21.1%), Tarlac (21.2% from 15.4%), and Pangasinan (20.9% from 15.5%).
On the other hand, those who continue to have high positivity rates but with declining numbers are the NCR (22% from 25.7%), Isabela (46.4% from 67.4%), Camarines Sur (43.1% from 47.9%), Batangas (30.9% from 36.1%), Rizal (30.8% from 36%), Cavite (30.2% from 34.3%), Laguna (29.1% from 35.7%), Zambales (24.8% from 26.6%), and Bulacan (22.1% from 24%).
Positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the coronavirus out of the overall number of those who have been tested.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the threshold for positivity rate for COVID-19 at 5 percent, which means the transmission is under control.
OCTA’s figures reflected the latest COVID-19 case bulletin issued by the Department of Health yesterday which showed a daily average of 1,667 or 11,667 cases during the period of May 22 to 28.
This is the first time since March 2023 that the DOH reported a drop in COVID-19 cases.
The latest DOH figures are 6 percent lower than cases reported from May 15 to 21, which averaged at 1,775 daily infections.
The DOH said there were 105 additional severe and critical cases during the past week but no deaths were reported.
The health department likewise said there are currently 554 severe and critical cases in the country, as of May 28, of which 453 are occupying ICU beds or 21.8 percent of the 2,077 total nationwide.
On the other hand, there are 4,208 patients occupying COVID-19 beds, or 23.2 percent of the 18,121 total nationwide.
