The country logged a 29-percent increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the past seven days and is now averaging 11,127 new cases daily, OCTA Research said in its report on Sunday, Aug. 15.
Based on OCTA's monitoring from Aug. 8 to 14, the reproduction number in the Philippines was at 1.46, meaning one person with COVID-19 is infecting up to two other individuals.
"It is very likely that new cases will continue to increase to next week," it said.
Ilocos Norte and Aklan were at critical risk in terms of their average daily attack rate (ADAR) or rate of incidence (35.34 and 32.90, respectively).
The ADAR or incidence rate refers to the number of new daily cases per 100,000 population.
However, the one-week growth rates have slowed down in Ilocos Norte and Aklan (-24 percent and 5 percent, respectively).
OCTA also observed that seven provinces were already above 70 percent in healthcare utilization.
These were Cebu (including Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City) with 72 percent hospital utilization, Cavite (73 percent), Laguna (77 percent), Pampanga (80 percent), Batangas (73 percent), Misamis Oriental (88 percent), and Cagayan (85 percent).
Misamis Oriental and Cagayan were already above critical level due to over 85 percent occupancy in healthcare utilization, while the other five areas were at "high risk."
Tarlac had the highest one-week growth rate at 139 percent.