The OCTA Research group supports the government’s decision to maintain the Alert Level 2 status of Metro Manila until December 15 amid the rise of the more infectious Omicron coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variant.
“Yes, I think it’s a preemptive precautionary move,” OCTA Research Fellow Guido David said during an interview with CNN Philippines.
“Without any threats, we might be down to Alert Level 1 but because of the possible threat of the Omicron variant, I believe this is the main reason we have stayed at Alert Level 2,” he added.
Meanwhile, David posted on his Twitter account that new infections in Metro Manila have already gone down to a seven-day average of 204, which is the lowest since June 5 to 11, 2020. It is also 30% lower than the 292 average posted from November 16 to 22, 2021.
NCR posted a low positivity rate of 1.47%.
David further explained that new infections in NCR might decrease to less than 100 per day even with the holiday season. However, the possible effects of the new Omicron variant was not yet considered in the projections.
He added that if a surge occurs, it may happen in January, February or March, around the first quarter of next year, and possibly the election period. Ronald Espartinez