The reproduction number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country continues to rise as it is already at 1.55, as of Monday, Aug. 16, OCTA Research said.

"As of yesterday, nasa 1.55 na yung reproduction number sa buong bansa (the country's reproduction number is 1.55). Ibig sabihin bumibilis yung hawaan sa buong bansa (This means that the rate of infection is accelerating all over the country)," OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said in a virtual public briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual and is the primary indicator used by OCTA to study COVID trends in the country.

In comparison to the surge in March 2021, David said the current COVID-19 surge had started slowly.

"That's why yung iba parang hindi nila masyado nakita yung pagtaas ng bilang ng kaso pero biglang nag-accelerate. Biglang bumilis yung pagdami ng bilang ng kaso (others didn't seem to see the increase in the number of cases at the start but it suddenly accelerated. The increase in the number of cases happened quickly)," David said.

"Ang ibig sabihin nun kasi nagkaroon ng replacement. Napapalitan yung virus ng mas bagong variant. Unti-unting dumadami yung variant na nagci-circulate (That means there was a replacement. The virus is being replaced by a newer variant. The circulating variants are gradually increasing), he added.

A study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC has shown that the Delta variant of COVID-19, first detected in India, spreads easily as chickenpox and is more transmissible than SARS, MERS, Ebola, common cold, flu, and smallpox.

David also pointed out that the unvaccinated Filipinos are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19 than those that are already vaccinated.

"Yung mga unvaccinated tumataas yung ICU rates nila. Ibig sabihin mas maraming naa-ICU sa mga unvaccinated kaysa noong nakaraan (Those who are unvaccinated have higher ICU utilization. That means more unvaccinated people are now in the ICU than in the past)," he explained.

Citing the Department of Health report, David said there is an increasing number of COVID-19 cases among 17 years old and below.

"Noong July 1, 7 percent sa Metro Manila ay mga 17 and below. Pero as of latest data umabot na siya ng mga 11 to 12 percent ng cases ay mga bata. Ibig sabihin mas maraming mga bata ang nahahawaan (On July 1, 7 percent of the cases in Metro Manila were about 17 years old and below. But as of the latest data, it has reached about 11 to 12 percent. That means more children are being infected," he said.

David urged the public, vaccinated or unvaccinated, to ensure strict adherence to minimum health protocols, such as the proper wearing of face mask and face shield, regular washing of hands, and physical distancing to prevent the further spread of the Delta COVID-19 strain.