NCR’s COVID-19 positivity rate ‘decreasing’; Isabela records 67.4% – OCTA

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — While the COVID-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region showed signs that it is “decreasing,” several provinces continued to record high numbers, with Isabela posting 67.4%, according to OCTA Research.

OCTA Research fellow Guido David said in a social media post that the rate of people testing positive for the virus in Metro Manila was flat at 25.7% as of May 20 against the 25.4% recorded last May 13. He said this suggests “that it may be decreasing this week.”

However, the following provinces recorded higher positivity rates in the past week:

Bataan (21.4%)

Batangas (36.1%)

Benguet (24.7%)

Cagayan (21.6%)

Camarines Sur (47.9%)

La Union (21.1%)

Laguna (35.7%)

Oriental Mindoro (33.3%)

Palawan (22.8%)

Pampanga (26.2%)

Quezon (43.8%)

Zambales (26.6%)

Isabela alone saw its positivity rate soared to 67.4% from 36.6% a week earlier.

On Sunday, the Department of Health reported additional cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, or Arcturus, pushing the total number to 11.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ Balitaan last week, David said Arcturus could be “one of the drivers of this current surge in cases.”