OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Monday, Aug. 8, said that 19 provinces across the country have seen “very high” or above 20 percent Covid-19 positivity rates over the past week.

Positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who were tested for Covid-19.

In an update shared on Twitter, David said the provinces that had very high positivity rates, as of Aug. 6, were:

Capiz — 64 percent on Aug. 6 from 51.2 percent on July 30

Camarines Sur — 48.7 percent from 30.3 percent

Isabela — 47.6 percent from 35.7 percent

Tarlac — 41.9 percent from 33.1 percent

Aklan — 40.1 percent from 36.9 percent

Nueva Ecija — 38.4 percent from 25 percent

Pampanga — 35 percent from 23.3 percent

Laguna — 33.2 percent from 30.9 percent

Cagayan — 30.5 percent from 22.2 percent

La Union — 29.4 percent from 24 percent

Zambales — 28.6 percent from 27.1 percent

Albay — 28.2 percent from 25.8 percent

Bohol — 26. 9 percent from 28.2 percent

Quezon — 25.1 percent from 26.6 percent

Pangasinan — 25 percent from 21.1 percent

Negros Oriental — 23.4 percent from 27.6 percent

Benguet — 22 percent from 18.3 percent

Cavite — 21.1 percent from 26.6 percent

Palawan — 20.4 percent from 10.1 percent

David also noted that Metro Manila logged a higher positivity rate—from 15.5 percent on July 30 to 17.5 percent on Aug. 6.

The World Health Organization has recommended that the Covid-19 positivity rate should remain at 5 percent or lower.

David urged residents in areas with very high positivity rates to continue to observe minimum health protocols.

“In provinces where the positivity rate is very high, i.e. above 20 percent, the public is strongly advised to practice necessary caution to prevent Covid infection,” he said.