OCTA says Metro Manila positivity rate decreasing; it could be limited testing capacity

Motorists queue for booster shot for COVID-19 during a drive-thru vaccination at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Jan. 15, 2022.

The STAR / Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila's COVID-19 positivity rate — at 54% earlier this month — has dipped to 50% as of January 14 and is still decreasing slowly, the OCTA Research Group said, acknowledging however that this may be an effect of limitations on testing.

The term positivity rate refers to the percentage of tests conducted that came out positive for COVID-19. Though slowly decreasing, a positivity rate of 50% means that one in every two tests will come out positive for COVID-19. 

Under the World Health Organization's benchmark recommendation, governments should seek to lower their positivity rates to just five percent before opening the economy.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/01/17/2154458/octa-says-metro-manila-positivity-rate-decreasing-it-could-be-limited-testing-capacity