OCTA: Metro Manila COVID-19 reproduction number at 4.69 from 6.16 peak

The national government allows the voluntary use face shields mandate in areas under Alert Levels 1, 2 and 3 as the Philippines sees a new surge in COVID-19 infections in January 2022.

The STAR / Walter Bollozos

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila's COVID-19 reproduction number — a term which refers to the number of persons a COVID-19 positive individual can infect — has decreased to 4.69 in recent days, the OCTA Research Group said Wednesday. 

At the number's peak earlier this month, the independent pandemic monitor said, one carrier of the disease could infect up to 6.16 people each on January 2 until slowing down to its current number as of January 8. 

"A decreasing reproduction number indicates that the trend is slowing down. One way to think of this is a decreasing growth rate — cases are still rising but at a slower pace. In past surges, a peak is always preceded by a decreasing reproduction number," OCTA fellow Guido David said in a tweet. 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/01/12/2153442/octa-metro-manila-covid-19-reproduction-number-469-616-peak