COVID-19 cases keep rising

PH records 2nd highest daily tally at 14,249; NCR reproduction number increases to 1.85

- ANALOU DE VERA and ELLALYN RUIZ-DE VERA

Although various parts of the country are under strict quarantine protocols, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) surge continues, while the reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) also increased.

In the latest report of the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines recorded 14,249 new COVID19 cases on Saturday, August 14, the second-highest single-day tally since the pandemic hit the country. The new cases pushed the country’s total number of confirmed cases to 1,727,231, of which, 5.7 percent or 98,847 are still active cases.

Ninety-five percent of active cases have mild symptoms, one percent are asymptomatic, 0.8 percent are critical, 1.4 percent are severe, and 0.95 percent are in moderate condition.

Last Friday, August 13, the country recorded 13,177 new COVID-19 cases, while a day before the daily tally of new cases was 12,439.

The death toll also increased by 233 to 30,070 or 1.74 percent of the COVID-19 case count. The recovery count also rose to 1,598,314 after 11,714 more patients recovered. The country's recovery rate is at 92.5 percent.

Reproduction rate in NCR rises

While the DOH reported a steady increase in daily cases the past three days, independent research group OCTA reported that the reproduction number in Metro Manila increased to 1.85 from 1.76 two days ago despite being under the strictest quarantine protocol.

Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual and is the primary indicator used by OCTA to study COVID trends in the country.