Independent research group OCTA on Sunday, July 18, said the highest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rates were observed in Laoag City, Mariveles in Bataan, Lapu-Lapu City, and Cebu City during the July 7-17 monitoring period.
COVID-19 infections were highest in Laoag City at 2.07 percent, followed by Mariveles at 1.83 percent, Lapu-Lapu City at 1.62 percent, and Cebu City at 1.40 percent.
OCTA said the infection rates in these areas are considered "very high."
Its monitoring report showed that the number of COVID-19 cases in Laoag City increased to 46 from 25 in the previous week.
In Mariveles, COVID cases rose from 21 to 66; in Lapu-Lapu City, from 31 to 50 cases; and in Cebu City, from 77 to 98 cases.
"Very high" incidence rates or average daily attack rates were also monitored in Mariveles at 47.08 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Laoag City at 40.03 cases per 100,000 population.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City and Davao City still had the highest intensive care unit (ICU) utilization at 97 percent and 96 percent, respectively.
OCTA's monitoring report still listed Davao City as the local government unit (LGU) with the highest number of average daily COVID-19 cases nationwide. It registered 225 cases during the July 11-17 period.
Quezon City had the second-highest average daily COVID-19 cases with 116.
Meanwhile, OCTA said the whole country remains under "moderate" risk for COVID-19 but there is a continuous decline in the number of average daily cases at 5,063, down from 5,243 cases during its previous monitoring.