The downward trend of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country continues to decrease according to a member of a research group studying the outbreak of coronavirus disease in the country, adding that there is a good projection of the pandemic situation in the coming months.
"Sa aming pagsusuri, the downward trend in the country is still decreasing, still going down. In fact, some of the local government units in Metro Manila have also reported a decrease in new cases in the last two weeks. Ito po ay magandang balita para sa paghahanda natin sa pag-open ng ilang sectors and industry," Dr. Butch Ong, a member of the OCTA Research Team, said in a virtual Laging Handa briefing on Thursday.
(In our analysis, the downward trend in the country is still decreasing and still going down. In fact, some of the local government units in Metro Manila have also reported a decrease in new cases in the last two weeks. This is good news for our preparations for the opening of some sectors and industries.)
Ong said their group still observes a downward trend in the reproduction number across the country, which is below 1 at 0.88. The reproduction number or "r-naught" is being used to measure the number of people one confirmed case could infect.
While in the National Capital Region (NCR), which is currently the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, Ong said the reproduction is even better, currently between 0.77 and 0.78.
"Ang kagandahan nito ay na-sustain natin ang trend even after the two-week timeout na hiningi ng mga health workers last August. So, everything points to a good projection in the next months," he said.
(The good thing is we sustained the trend even after the two-week timeout demanded by health workers last August. So everything points to a good projection in the next months.)
With the continuous downward trend, Ong said they are aiming to also lower the positivity rate in the county to five percent, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The health expert also encouraged the public to continue to observe minimum health and safety standards, such as cleanliness and hygiene, to sustain the current trend until the end of the year and have a "coronavirus free" country soon.
Ong added that the public should now make as "habit" the new normal protocols and practice regular washing of hands, physical distancing, wearing of face masks, among others, even after the pandemic to avoid a second wave.
"Tayo ay nasa first wave lamang kasi hindi naman talaga tayo nagkaroon ng zero COVID-19 case. Hopefully, with our cooperation sa minimum health standards, we might not experience a second wave," he added.
(We are only in the first wave because we did not really have zero COVID-19 cases. Hopefully, with our cooperation on minimum health standards, we might not experience a second wave.)