Daily COVID-19 cases can reach 2,500 per day – OCTA Research

Experts of the UP-OCTA Research Group expect that the country’s COVID-19 cases will hit 2,500 a day in the country if the trend continues to increase, which has already started in recent days.

Last Saturday, 2,921 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, but it dropped to 2,113 this Sunday. Despite this, Prof. Guido David “concerning” the data if it does not continue to go down.

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“Ito ‘yung levels na nakita natin noong August per day. What that would mean? potentially mao-overwhelm ang health care system so that’s why it’s importante na ma-curb natin agad,” David insisted.

It may still be caused by past celebrations such as Valentine’s Day that many came out and visited and even the Chinese New Year. But the main reason may be the public’s complacency.

In Metro Manila, Pasay City leads with the largest increase in cases due to the ‘localized lockdown’ of 56 barangays. OCTA Research is also monitoring the possible increase in cases in Manila, Quezon City, and Makati.

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Daily COVID-19 cases can reach 2,500 per day – OCTA Research

The group is also in favor of still undergoing Metro Manila and nine other areas in the general community quarantine (GCQ) in March, although it is seen that many people are already free to leave their homes.

“In hindsight at least, it’s good na hindi pa tayo nag-MGCQ sa Metro Manila because of the surge in increase in Metro Manila and kung mag-MGCQ ay mas mahirap na i-curb ito. We could still implement localized lockdowns pero implementation would be hard and we think na ‘yun nga ‘yung being in GCQ will help us curb this increase better,” OCTA Research member David explained.

Meanwhile, the start of vaccination of health care workers at COVID-19 referral hospitals in  begins Monday.

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The ceremonial vaccination will be held on Monday at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Lung Center of the Philippines, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Philippine National Police General Hospital, and V. Luna General Hospital. They will be attended by government officials.

This is after the first batch of vaccines against COVID-19, produced by the Chinese company Sinovac and donated by China, arrived in the Philippines this Sunday.