Cebu City in the midst of its worst COVID-19 surge -- OCTA

Aug 8, 2021 06:18 PM

A scene in Cebu City went viral where cars are seen lining up in front of a private hospital with oxygen tanks stationed beside each vehicle Sunday night, August 1, 2021. Those cars were said to have patients who are experiencing cough and difficulty in breathing and are waiting to be accommodated by the said hospital. (PTV-4/MANILA BULLETIN)

Cebu City is experiencing its worst coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surge yet as the city's seven-day average increased by 22 percent from the previous week, OCTA Research said in its latest monitoring report released on Sunday, Aug. 8.

OCTA noted that Cebu City recorded 271 average daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases during the Aug. 1-7 period.

This is higher than the peak of the surge on Feb. 20, 2021, when it reported 266 new cases per day.

However, OCTA observed that the COVID-19 reproduction number in Cebu City has decreased to 1.51 from 1.69.

"The peak reproduction number during this current surge was 1.9 on July 22, 2021. The decrease in reproduction number indicates the pandemic in Cebu City may be decelerating," the group said.

Hospital bed occupancy in Cebu City remains moderate at 62 percent, while ICU bed occupancy is high at 81 percent.

OCTA urged the local government of Cebu City to continue implementing strict measures and interventions to further decrease the reproduction number that will eventually lead to fewer cases of COVID-19.