National Task Force (NTF) Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Vince Dizon said Monday, Oct. 4, that the number of people testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) went down from almost 30 percent in mid-September to 20 percent.
"Ang ibig sabihin nito, yung dami ng nagpopositibo sa mga tine-test natin ay sampung porsyento na ang ibinaba. Nakikita na rin natin ito sa pagbaba ng ating positive cases everyday (This means that the number of positive cases is decreasing. We can already see the decrease in our positive cases everyday)," Dizon said during a public briefing.
"Ang ibig sabihin din nito is bumababa na talaga mula sa peak ng dami ng kaso ang ating COVID-19 cases. Nakikita na rin natin ito sa pagbaba sa utilization sa ating ospital. Napakapositibong sign ito (It also means that our COVID-19 cases are dropping from its peak. We are already seeing this in the decrease in utilization in our hospitals. This is a very positive sign)," he added.
The OCTA Research Group on Sunday reported that COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao are on a downward trend.
However, Dizon stressed that now is not yet the time to be complacent. He emphasized the importance of observing minimum public health standards even with cases dropping.
"Kailangan tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang ating mabilis na pagbabakuna kaya napakaganda po ng balita ni Sec. Galvez na marami na tayong supply ng bakuna di tulad nung first half of September na medyo matumal po ang dating ng ating doses (We still need to continue with our fast vaccination. According to Sec. Galvez, we have an ample supply of vaccines now unlike in the first half of September when our roll out was slow due to low supply)," Dizon added.
The testing czar vowed to hasten the deployment of vaccines and speed up the government's inoculation program.