NCR COVID-19 positivity rate peaking; infections to spread to provinces –OCTA

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region appeared to be peaking, but infections were likely to spread to the provinces, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said on Saturday.

According to David, the NCR positivity rate jumped to 22.4% on Thursday from the 18.4% recorded on December 14.

Earlier, infectious diseases expert and Philippine College of Physicians President Dr. Rontgene Solante said that there had been an expected rise of cases this holiday season due to the increase of gatherings and parties following the relaxed pandemic protocols.

While hospitalization and ICU admission rates remained low, Solante said that the spread of influenza-like infections and the possible presence of the highly contagious COVID-19 JN.1 variant remained a threat to the public.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health’s last COVID-19 bulletin reported 557 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the total nationwide caseload to 4,132,200.

The National Capital Region had the most recorded new cases within the past 14 days at 2,293 cases in total, while Quezon City was the top city at 645 cases in total. — DVM, GMA Integrated News