OCTA: Metro Manila's COVID-19 reproduction number now at 0.61, growth rate at -41%

Independent research group OCTA on Saturday, Oct. 9, said Metro Manila's coronavirus reproduction number or the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual was further down to 0.61 from 0.83 a week ago.
OCTA noted that the one-week COVID-19 growth rate also decreased from -17 percent on Sept. 25-Oct. 1 to negative (-) 41 percent on Oct. 2-Oct. 8.
From 3,627 daily cases on Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, it went down to 2,140 cases per day on Oct. 2 to Oct. 8.
Metro Manila's positivity rate, which refers to the number of people who test positive given the testing, also went down from 17 percent to 13 percent but still considered "high," OCTA said.
While reproduction number is the primary indicator used by OCTA to study COVID trends in the country, it also considers positivity rate as a "strong supporting indicator."
Moreover, the average daily attack rate (ADAR), or infection rate in Metro Manila, was down to a "high" level at 15.32 cases per 100,000 population from a "critical" level at 25.97 cases per 100,000 population last week.
Metro Manila also saw improvements in its healthcare utilization rate--from 57 percent to 53 percent, classified as "low-risk."
Meanwhile, the intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy rate is down to 71 percent from 75 percent but still considered "high."
Based on the Covid Act Now metrics, OCTA on Oct. 4 had classified Metro Manila as "moderate" risk for COVID-19, down from a "high" risk classification.