Metro Manila's COVID-19 reproduction rate now 'very high' at 4.78 – OCTA
Faster than the Delta-driven surge, Metro Manila’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reproduction rate has escalated to a “very high” level of 4.78, said the OCTA Research group on Monday, Jan 3.

Reproduction rate refers to the average number of secondary infections estimated to stem from a single case.
“It is definitely faster . During the Delta surge, , it never reached past two, so that means one person was infecting about two other people. But this time, it’s almost at five so one person is infecting five other people on average,” said OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David in a televised interview on CNN Philippines.
David likewise said that there is a high possibility that the region will eventually see a higher number of infections compared to the Delta surge.
Meanwhile, in a worst-case scenario, the group of experts said that the COVID-19 cases in the region could hit a record-high number, surpassing the previously recorded 9,000 infections in one day.
However, OCTA reiterated that even though the region breaches the record, as long as the hospitalization number remained at a low level, it wouldn’t affect Metro Manila’s health care system.
David added that they are hoping that the currently implemented restrictions, pertaining to the Alert Level 3 status imposed in Metro Manila until Jan. 15, 2022, will slow down the rate of transmission and decrease the number of infections in the region.
He likewise urged Metro Manila residents to continuously observe minimum public health standards and reduce unnecessary travels to avoid the transmission of the virus. (Charie Mae F Abarca)