OCTA says NCR is 'healing' but warns against complacency

May 6 ------ Metro Manila’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reproduction number further declined to 0.77, an expert of the OCTA Research said on Wednesday, May 5. “Magandang balita. Nasa 0.77 na lang ang R [reproduction number] natin. Ibig sabihin less than 1 siya, bumabagal na ang pagkalat at yung kaso [sa Metro Manila] bumaba na from a high of 5,000 cases, ngayon yung average ay nasa 2,800 na” OCTA Research fellow professor Ranjit Rye said in a DZRH interview.

“So we are healing already. Kaya ito ang panahon na hindi tayo dapat tayo magkumpyansa, magpabaya. Kailangan ho tayo lalong mag-iingat at lalo na dahil may banta ng mga bagong variant na pwedeng pumasok,” he added. Rye said the current reproduction number is a significant gain for Metro Manila. “Malaking bagay yun kasi nagsimula tayo a month a half ago ang pinakamataas, yung peak, ay umabot tayo sa 2,” he pointed out.

“Kailangan ma-sustain yan [reproduction number] over the next one to two weeks para makita natin na bumaba [ang mga kaso],” he added. At present, Rye said that hospital bed occupancy for COVID cases has slightly eased but the intensive care unit or ICU was still full.

“Mataas pa rin ang kaso at 2,800 cases,” he said. “Hindi pa rin tayo healed. Papunta palang tayo” he added. Rye stressed that adherence to minimum public health standards, such as proper wearing of face mask and face shield, regular washing of hands, and physical distancing, remain a cornerstone in controlling the rise in cases. “Ang trend kahit downward na po pwede magreverse yan at tumaas kung magpapabaya at magkukumpyansa,” he said.

Source: mb.com.ph