The National Capital Region (NCR) showed an "uptick" of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases recently, the OCTA Research group said on Tuesday, July 20.
“The reproduction number in the NCR increased to Rt = 1.06, the first time it went above 1 since April 18, 2021, when the region was still under ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine),” the OCTA stated in its monitoring report.
“The average daily new cases in the NCR increased by 11 percent to 701 as of July 13 to 19, 2021. The daily average has remained less than 700 over the past four weeks,” it added.
However, this uptick is not a cause for alarm for now, the OCTA group said.
“This uptick in the NCR is a cause for concern but not yet a cause for alarm, as it is still too early to determine if this will continue to an increasing trend,” it said.
“The trend in the new cases in NCR this week will be important in the outlook for the region,” it added.
The OCTA said it observed an increasing COVID-19 cases in some cities of Metro Manila.
“Within the NCR, Manila and Makati both had high reproduction numbers. This indicates an increasing trend in new cases in these two LGUs (local government units). Manila had a one week growth rate of 35 percent, while Makati had a one week growth rate of 29 percent,” it said.
“Other LGUs in the NCR with a significant one week growth rate are: Valenzuela, Pasay, Marikina and Parañaque, which had increases in new daily cases from the previous week of 43 percent, 27 percent, 27 percent, and 22 percent respectively,” it added.