OCTA: NCR's COVID-19 cases already back to February pre-Delta surge level

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region has returned to its level in February as it recorded a 7-day average of 493, independent monitoring group OCTA Research said Friday.

This is lower than the 7-day average of 630 cases previously reported.

“The last time the 7-day average was below 500 was on February 18, 2021. We not only reversed the Delta [variant] surge, we are already at the February pre-surge level,” OCTA fellow Guido David said in a tweet.

David earlier said that NCR has returned to its state before the surge in cases driven by the highly contagious Delta variant in July.

According to David, the COVID-19 reproduction number in the region also decreased to 0.40.

The reproduction rate refers to the number of people infected by one case. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down.

The 7-day average in the NCR decreased to 493. The last time it was below 500 was on February 18. Reproduction number is at 0.40. @dzbb @DZAR1026 @allangatus @dzrhnews @NewsRmn @dwiz882 @News5PH @RMMendozaMT @EagleNews @dzme_1530khz @PHINewsNet1 @PhilstarNews @BomboRadyoNews pic.twitter.com/CIvDQ4U72s

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) November 5, 2021

 Less than 1k cases nationwide

 In a separate interview,  David said the Philippines may report less than 1,000 cases by the end of November.

OCTA previously projected that daily cases nationwide may drop to 2,000 by the end of the month.

“But it’s just the first week of November and we’re seeing less than, you know, 1,500 yesterday… we may even see triple-digit numbers per day by end of November,” David said in an interview on CNN.

“I don’t think we’ve seen that level since just after the start of the pandemic. If this continues, we would really be having a really good Christmas,” he added.

The Philippines on Thursday logged 1,766 new COVID-19 cases, marking the second consecutive day where less than 2,000 cases were reported. —LBG, GMA News