The OCTA Research group projected that the Philippines may experience 20,000 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections in a day within 2 weeks because virus reproduction rate is just about to decrease in locations outside Metro Manila.
Currently, OCTA Research fellow Guido David said that the country has a reproduction rate of 1.45 — the number of people getting infected with Covid-19 by a single person .
He added that infections outside Metro Manila are slowing down but are still increasing.
“‘Yung 20,000 cases, mukhang very possible na maabot natin yan within the next 2 weeks, itong 20,000 cases in 1 day,” he shared in an interview with ABS-CBN.
“Almost sure na yan kasi ‘di pa less than 1 ang reproduction number natin sa buong bansa.”
The National Capital Region has a reproduction rate of 1.67 amid the 2-week strict lockdown versus the 1.9 rate last week .
“May epekto ang ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) pero ‘di natin nakikita agad-agad ang pagbaba ng bilang ng kaso. Baka by first or second week of September, pababa na ang bilang ng kaso natin sa Metro Manila,” he said.
David added that the country is reporting a daily average of 3,500 Covid-19 infections compared to 4,000 previously. Its growth rate was 24 percent in the previous week, which was a 72-percent decrease two weeks ago.
“Sa nakikita namin, di na siya lalagpas ng 5,000 sa current trend,” he said.
“Ang healthcare system natin, ‘di siya makakahinga sa ngayon hanggat siguro malapit sa katapusan ng September,” he said. Ronald Espartinez