OCTA: Daily COVID-19 cases in NCR could fall to 200 by end-February
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17) — The National Capital Region’s daily COVID-19 case tally could fall to as low as 200 by the end of the month, OCTA Research said on Thursday.
"For Metro Manila, we're hoping that it would be down to around 200," OCTA Research fellow Guido David told CNN Philippines. He added that this figure, along with their projected below 1,000 daily nationwide tally by end-February, is "approximately what we were seeing late last year before the Omicron surge."
The region logged 632 new infections on Feb. 16, according to the Department of Health COVID-19 tracker.
“With mostly fresh cases, this feels like a Valentine spike. The figure shows that it is above the Jan. 24 projections. Let's continue to practice health protocols. The virus is still here,” David tweeted Wednesday evening.
He added that OCTA still expects the region’s positivity rate to dwindle below 5% by March 1, noting it has already gone down to 6.6%.
David also expressed hope that the downtrend in infections will continue even with gatherings already being held, adding Metro Manila could ease to Alert Level 1 by March if this is the case.
READ: Duque: 'New normal' scenario in NCR seen under Alert Level 1, de-escalation possible by March https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/2/15/Alert-Level-1-new-normal-scenario-March.html
Save for seven areas under Alert Level 3, the rest of the country is under Alert Level 2 until Feb. 28.
RELATED: Alert Level 2 in NCR retained to 'counterbalance' political gatherings – Duque
