Increasing COVID cases in NCR have not peaked yet — OCTA

Metro Manila ICU bed capacity exceeds April levels

- JALEEN RAMOS and ELLALYN DE VERA –RUIZ

The number of coronavirus dis-ease (COVID-19) cases daily in the country may exceed more than 20,000 by early September, independent research group OCTA said Sunday, Aug. 29.

Hindi pa naman siguro natin masasabi na aabot ng 25,000. Pero it’s very possible na hihigit 20,000 by a few thousands. I don’t have the exact number right now (We can't say yet if it will reach 25,000, but it's very possible it will be more than 20,000 by a few thousands), OCTA research fellow Guido David told DZMM TeleRadyo in an interview.

On August 28, the country recorded 19,441 new coronavirus infections — the highest in a single day since the pandemic began in March last year.

On Sunday, Aug. 29 the Department of Health reported 18,528 new coronavirus infections - the second highest single-day case tally.

'Yung pagdami ng bilang ng kaso sa National Capital Region, tumataas pa siya talaga. Hindi pa siya nag pipeak (The increase in the number of cases in the National Capital Region is really increasing. It hasn't peaked yet), David said.

First or second week of September, makikita natin ang peak. Di pa garantisado kasi ang reproduction number, bumababa siya, pero greater 1 pa rin. Ibig sabihin, tumataas pa rin ang bilang ng kaso (First or second week of September, we'll see it peak. Although it's not guaranteed because the reproduction number is declining but still greater than 1, which shows cases are still increasing), he added.

David also noted that COVID-19 cases in the NCR increased by 11 percent in the past week from 24 percent the previous week.