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Active COVID-19 infections remain at a record high, though OCTA notes decline in NCR

By SAAB LARIOSA Published Jan 17, 2022 4:53 pm

The number of new COVID-19 infections in the country remain elevated, pushing the total tally of active cases to another record high, even as the OCTA Research Group notes a burgeoning decline in Metro Manila cases.

The Department of Health (DOH) today, Jan. 17, reported 37,070 fresh COVID-19 infections in the country, bringing the total number active cases to a record high of 290,938.

The health agency also reported that 33,940 people have recovered from the virus for a total of 2,898,507 recoveries in the country.

Meanwhile, 23 individuals have succumbed to the virus, bringing the country's total COVID-19 death count to 52,929 or 1.68 % of overall cases.

The DOH added that 98.4% of the positive cases are mild and asymptomatic.

According to their latest Jan. 15 update, all laboratories are operational while 12 labs failed to send in their COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) data.

The previous record high in the daily COVID case count was the 39,004 logged on Jan. 15.

The country's COVID-19 positivity rate also dipped today to 46% as compared to the 47 and higher percentages in the past few days.

The news comes after the OCTA Research Group said that COVID-19 cases in NCR have been decreasing steadily either due to peaking cases or the region meeting its testing limit. 

"May optimism nga na tayo na baka bumababa na ang kaso sa Metro Manila pero again ayaw nating maging complacent tayo, ayaw nating magcelebrate ng premature," said OCTA head David Guido during the Jan. 17 Laging Handa briefing.

David noted that NCR’s daily growth rate is now at negative territory at -1% compared to the previous days when it was 2% or higher.

"In the meantime, ituloy pa rin natin ang ginagawa natin, yung nga minimum health standards dahil yun yung nakatutulong para ibaba yung trend tulad ng pagsuot ng face mask, social distancing, unnecessary gatherings at ang pagbabakuna."

Meanwhile, the DOH has also previously confirmed that NCR is already experiencing a community transmission of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variant.