The seven-day positivity rate for Covid-19 in Metro Manila has slightly increased, while several other areas in Luzon have registered “high” rates over the past week, OCTA Research said on Sunday, May 14.
OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said the positivity rate in Metro Manila rose slightly from 22.7 percent on May 6 to 25.4 percent on May 13, which is classified as “high” in OCTA’s metrics.
Covid-19 positivity rates in Metro Manila and Luzon provinces as of May 13, 2023 (OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David/Twitter)
David noted that high positivity rates were also observed in Bataan (from 12.5 percent on May 6 to 20.2 percent on May 13), Batangas (from 23.2 percent to 33.7 percent), Benguet (from 17.4 percent to 20.3 percent), Bulacan (from 20.1 percent to 25.2 percent), Camarines Sur (from 45.1 percent to 46.5 percent), Cavite (from 35.3 percent to 36.9 percent), Isabela (from 25.9 percent to 36.6 percent), Laguna (from 26.6 percent to 29.9 percent), Oriental Mindoro (from 10.5 percent to 29.5 percent), Pampanga (from 19 percent to 24.8 percent), Quezon (from 29.4 percent to 42.7 percent), and Rizal (from 38.8 percent to 44.4 percent).
The peak of the surge, particularly in Metro Manila, may occur "within one to two weeks," the OCTA fellow said on May 10.
Positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who have been tested for Covid-19.
The benchmark for the positivity rate set by the World Health Organization is 5 percent.
On May 14, the Department of Health reported 2,109 new Covid-19 cases across the country, of which 868 cases were recorded in Metro Manila.
David projected that the country may record 1,400 to 1,600 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, May 15.
He said the country’s current positivity rate is 23.4 percent, down slightly from 23.6 percent on May 13.