The Covid-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila may peak next week, but the 25 percent initial projection will not be reached, said OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Tuesday, May 9.
David noted that only a “slight” increase in the current Covid-19 positivity rate was observed in Metro Manila, which could indicate that the “increasing trend is slowing down.”
“Metro Manila’s seven-day positivity rate increased slightly to 22.9 percent as of May 7, 2023. It was at 17.8 percent on April 30,” David said.
“The increasing trend is slowing down, and the peak could happen within the next week or so. The positivity rate could also miss the 25 percent mark,” he pointed out.
Metro Manila‘s weekly Covid-19 positivity rate (OCTA Fellow Dr. Guido David)
On May 8, David said that the increasing Covid-19 cases, driven by the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, may begin to decline “hopefully by late May or June.”
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.
The Department of Health on Monday reported 1,545 new Covid-19 cases across the country, of which 677 cases were recorded in Metro Manila.
He said the country’s current positivity rate was down to 18.8 percent on May 8, from 19.9 percent on May 7.
David projected that the country may only record 600 to 700 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.
