OCTA Research: Metro Manila's COVID reproduction number down to 1.53

Metro Manila's average daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were only up by 13 percent to 4,019 cases this week from 3,556 cases in the previous week, OCTA Research said in its latest report released on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
The group noted that the previous weekly growth rates were much higher at 54 percent, 46 percent, and 67 percent.
While new cases are still increasing in Metro Manila, the decreasing growth rate has been consistent with a decreasing reproduction number.
OCTA said the reproduction number, which refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual, has gone down to 1.53 from 1.78.
However, the current reproduction number is still within the critical range.
OCTA also observed that several local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila have seen decreasing reproduction numbers and growth rates.
In Navotas, the reproduction number decreased to less than 1.4.
Other LGUs, such as Pasay, Malabon, Manila, Quezon City, Makati, and Las Piñas had reproduction numbers less than 1.5 and growth rates below 20 percent.
Meanwhile, Pateros, San Juan, Taguig, Mandaluyong, and Caloocan had reproduction numbers higher than 1.7.
The positivity rate in Metro Manila over the past seven days was 23 percent. This refers to the percentage of PCR tests that yielded a positive result.
Only four LGUs remain below critical incidence or average daily attack rate. These were Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, and Marikina.
OCTA said that ICU occupancy for COVID cases in Metro Manila was at a "high" level (74 percent), while hospital bed utilization for COVID patients was "moderate" (67 percent).
ICU occupancy was in critical level in San Juan, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Marikina, while it was at high levels in Makati, Taguig, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela, and Quezon City.