According to OCTA Research, there is already ‘community transmission’ of the Delta variant in the National Capital Region (NCR) based on new data.
“We understand ang Department of Health, sila ang official body, kino-confirm nila ito through genome sequencing. We’re an independent group, (and) we can say based on statistics, based on sampling, yung nakita nating Delta variant cases, tumataas na sa 25 percent. Dati, nasa 15 percent,” said OCTA fellow Prof. Guido David.
Based on this, there may be 300 new cases of Delta variant emerging every day in NCR.
“Kung 300 cases per day, masasabi natin talagang merong community transmission. In the interest of safety, kahit wala pang confirmation na community transmission, it’s better to assume na merong community transmission para magdoble ingat tayo,” David justified in issuing a warning to the public.
According to the latest DOH data, last Wednesday, 216 Delta variant cases have been identified in the country, and only 16 are active, eight have died, and 192 have fully recovered.
David added that the Delta variant is the last obstacle that the Philippines has to overcome this year. When more people have been vaccinated, and the Delta variant has passed, Filipinos can expect happier months to come.
NCR already has ‘community transmission’ of Delta variant
Meanwhile, the OCTA Research Group considers COVID-19 in Metro Manila to be in a “serious surge.”
This is after 1,740 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Saturday in the capital region, the highest number of new cases since May 10.
OCTA considers thirteen cities as “high-risk areas” out of 16 cities and 1 municipality that makes up Metro Manila. Still, District 3 makes up Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela is the epicenter of the surge.
According to OCTA, the use of hospital beds and intensive care units (ICUs) in Manila has also increased but is still low to moderate, apart from Las Piñas, where the ICU is at a critical level while high in Makati and Muntinlupa.
Metro Manila has been subjected to stricter general community quarantine, and it will be enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20.
Checkpoints have been set up on the boundaries of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces starting this Sunday.
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