'Epidemic epicenter' widens

From NCR+, it now includes Davao City and Western Visayas – OCTA

- ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

The National Capital Region-Plus (NCR+) bubble, Davao City, and Western Visayas are now considered “epidemic epicenters” due to the high daily average number of new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, the OCTA Research said on Wednesday, June 9,

Dr. Guido David, a research fellow of OCTA, said Metro Manila is still averaging almost 1,000 COVID-19 cases per day, which means the NCR-Plus bubble, consisting of Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan, is still the epidemic epicenter.

“Pero (But) we could say na (that) the corresponding increase in Mindanao areas depends on the definition ng (of the) perspective ng (of a) person on what the epicenter is. From our perspective yun nga we could say na (that) it [Davao City] is also one of the epicenters ngayon (now) along with Western Visayas.,” David explained during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday.

Davao City not an epicenter – DOH

But the Department of Health (DOH) said it does not consider Davao City as an epicenter of COVID-19 despite the continuous spike of infections in the area.

“Davao City is not an epicenter,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday, June 9.

Vergeire said that the DOH discourages the use of the term “epicenter” in “describing the rise of cases in an area.”

“Epicenter, in relation to epidemics, is interpreted by some to refer to an area as the source of the infection. It is also meant to connote the area as a hotspot for the infection,” said Vergeire.