Experts studying the pandemic in the country reported on Friday, April 2, a significant drop in the growth rate of COVID-19 cases recorded in the National Capital Region (NCR) ever since the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was imposed. (READ: Waiting for data, some NCR mayors mull ECQ extension)

According to the report by OCTA Research, the average number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the NCR from March 25 to April 1 had increased by only 19% from the previous week. This is much lower than the weekly case percentage growth prior to the ECQ, which was at 60%.

The report also showed that the reproduction number in the NCR had also decreased to 1.58 since the start of the ECQ, meaning that one person positive for the virus was now infecting at least one other person. The reproduction number was formerly at 1.95.

Still in danger zone

The researchers noted, however, that the drop in percentage growth may be attributed in part to reduced testing. The average number of tests per day in the NCR from March 28 to 31 was 25,880, a 12% decrease in tests compared to the daily average from March 21 to 27.

“The problem,” the researchers cautioned, “is that with a high positivity
rate of 23% in the NCR, there is a need to further scale up PCR testing to be able to keep up with the surge in new COVID-19 cases.”

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday appealed to licensed COVID-19 testing centers in the country to continue their operations during the Holy Week to ensure the uninterrupted monitoring of the pandemic situation.

The country as a whole is still reeling from the surge.

The DOH on Friday recorded 15,310 new confirmed COVID-19 cases – the Philippines’ highest single-day tally so far.

This brings the country’s total confirmed cases to 771,497. Of these cases, 19.9% or 153,809 cases are active or currently sick. – Rappler.com