Metro Manila's Covid-19 reproduction number at 0.71 – OCTA
Metro Manila’s Covid-19 reproduction number “slightly increased” to 0.71, an OCTA Research fellow said on Saturday, April 30.
“Ang ating reproduction number ay nasa 0.71. Medyo bahagyang umakyat pero hindi pa naman ganon ka-alarming. Yung ating daily new case ay below 200 pa lamang (Our reproduction number is at 0.71. It slightly increased but it is not alarming yet. Our daily new case is just below 200) ” said OCTA fellow Dr. Butch Ong in the “Laging Handa” public briefing.

Factors that contribute to this “slight increase” in Metro Manila’s reproduction number include mass gatherings, campaign-related activities, and non-compliance to minimum public health standards, said Ong.
Ong added that the group is currently monitoring the number of cases in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Cotabato, Zamboanga, and Batangas to see whether the trends will increase or decrease in the next three to five days.
Meanwhile, Ong said that the independent group OCTA is in favor of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ decision to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 1 until May 15, 2022.
“Sinusuportahan natin ang move ng IATF on the alert levels kasi these are evidence-based. Based yan sa data na nakikita natin at nare-report. Again, our cases are not that alarming for now (We support the IATF’s move on the alert levels because these are evidence-based. That is based on the data we see and report. Again, our cases are not that alarming for now),” added Ong.
Despite the "low number of cases" in the country, Ong reminded the public to continue adhering to the minimum public health standards and get inoculated, especially now that the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12 has been detected in the country.