COVID-19 Surge Is ‘Very Serious' As It's Now All Over The Country – OCTA

Independent research group OCTA on Tuesday, Aug. 10, expressed “very serious” concern about the new surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases that is happening not only in Metro Manila, but all over the country.

- Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

“This is very serious even comparing it with what happened last March (2021). The reason is that when we had the surge in March due to the Alpha and Beta variants, it was primarily in the NCR (National Capital Region). In fact, when we reported 10,000 up to 11,000 cases in March and April, 94 percent of those cases were within the NCR-Plus bubble. So the difference now is that it’s not just in the NCR but is happening all over the country,” Dr. Guido David said in a CNN Philippines interview.

The NCR-Plus bubble consisted of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna.

David recommended to the national and local governments to closely monitor the situations in Tuguegarao City, Cebu City, and some areas in Western and Central Visayas.

OCTA, in its report released on Aug. 8 noted that the current COVID surge in Cebu City is worse than what it saw last February.

“Of course the situation in the country is different. Some are plateauing, some are just starting to have a surge but that situation is that it’s more widespread now. Containing this very infectious virus, which is the Delta variant, should be our main priority right now,” he added.