**media**
The number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Metro Manila might have already started decreasing as the region posted a negative (-) 1 percent daily growth rate over the past week, OCTA Research Fellow Dr. Guido David said on Monday, Jan. 17.
"Base sa datos kahapon , bumaba ang daily growth rate to negative 1 percent from 2 percent. Mukhang pababa na ng kaunti pero di pa tayo pwede mag-celebrate (Based on the data yesterday, Jan. 16, the daily growth rate dropped to negative 1 percent from 2 percent. It looks like it's going down a bit but we cannot celebrate yet)," David said during the Laging Handa public hearing.
Metro Manila had 15,959 new cases on Jan. 16, which is lower than the reported numbers over the past four days, based on the Department of Health's bulletin.
David noted that the growth rate over the past four days, in order, were 11 percent, 5 percent, 3 percent, and 2 percent.
"All over the country now, we're seeing a rise in cases, kaya makaka-affect ito sa sinasabing peak kung pinag-uusapan buong bansa. Pero possible na sa NCR , Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal ay baka malapit na ang peak o nagpi-peak na tayo (All over the country, we're seeing a rise in cases, so it could affect the said peak if we're talking about the whole country. But it is possible that in the NCR , Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, the peak may be near or we are already peaking," he said.
Moreover, Metro Manila's reproduction number is currently at 2.67--from a peak of 6.16 on Jan. 2.
"Nanggaling 'yan sa mahigit sa 6. isang infected more than six ang nahahawaan. Ngayon less than three na lang (It came from more than 6. It means that a COVID positive individual infects more than six. Now it's just less than three)," David explained.
While the trend is encouraging, suggesting that cases in Metro Manila may have already peaked, David said there remains the possibility that visibility of the situation in the region is clouded because of limitations in testing.
"Next week makikita natin kung talagang pababa ang bilang sa NCR (Next week we will see if the number of cases in NCR is really going down," he said.
"I'd say it's a good sign dahil bumababa lahat ng indicators natin (because all our indicators are improving). Pero sabi nga, mas magandang hintayin natin (That being said, it is still best to wait). For the meantime, tuloy ang pagsunod sa (continue following) minimum public health standards," he added.