Independent research group OCTA has monitored a significant decrease in Metro Manila's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case fatality rate (CFR) since the beginning of 2021.

In its monitoring report released on Saturday, July 10, OCTA said the CFR in Metro Manila has dropped to 0.78 percent from June 1 to July 6, 2021, which is a 26 percent decrease from the 1.6 percent recorded in the first quarter of the year.

"This means there are now less than one out of every 100 COVID-19 cases dying due to COVID," it said.

In comparison, OCTA said the CFR in Metro Manila in 2020 was 2.32 percent, which meant more than two out of 100 cases died due to COVID-19.

It noted a drop in the CFR among individuals, who are 60 years old and above, from 5.8 percent to 4.29 percent--a decrease of 27 percent.

OCTA also saw decreases in the CFR among those 50 to 59 years old, down by 25 percent, and among those 40 to 49 years old, down by 60 percent.

However, it remained the same at 0.13 percent among those aged 18 to 39.

"On the other hand, the CFR for the 17 and below age group increased from 0.07 percent to 0.20 percent, i.e., currently one out of 500 cases below 18 years old die due to COVID-19," the group said.

OCTA "largely" attributed the reduction in Metro Manila's CFR to the "improvements in treatment and management of COVID-19 cases."

Likewise, it cited the continued improvement in efforts of healthcare workers, as well as the efforts of the national and local governments in scaling up hospital capacity and equipment.