Monday, February 6, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home News Coronavirus 2019

NCR posts hike in COVID positivity rate

Willie CasasbyWillie Casas
November 28, 2022, 11:50 pm
in Coronavirus 2019, National, News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

Metro Manila and certain provinces in Luzon have registered slight increases in COVID-19 positivity rate over the past week, but other areas showed slight decline.

Meanwhile, medical experts disclosed that Omicron BQ.1, a new sublineage of the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, has been detected in the country.

According to the independent OCTA Research Group which conducted the study on Nov. 29-26, this year, the positivity rate in the National Capital Region went up to from 7.5 percent to 11.1 percent during the week in review.

OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David, explained that positivity rate refers to the number of people who were found positive for COVID among a group who were tested for the virus.

The OCTA research also indicated that positivity rates in other Luzon provinces such as Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, and Pangasinan also went up.

ADVERTISEMENT

Isabela recorded the recent highest positivity rate in Luzon with 44.4 percent, although down from 49.4 percent on November 19.

Luzon provinces that showed a decline in positivity rates over the same period were Albay, Bataan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales.

In the larger picture, the Philippines on Sunday recorded 1,326 new COVID-19 cases—the fifth straight day that more than 1,000 new cases were logged.

The Department of Health (DOH) said that NCR recorded the most cases in the last two weeks with 3,874, followed by Calabarzon with 1,961, and Western Visayas with 1,293.

Currently, 14 cases of BQ.1 have reportedly been found in the Philippines based on the latest genome sequencing.

Dr. Rontege Solante, an infectious disease expert, said COVID-19 vaccinations should be intensified following the detection of the BQ.1 sub-variant.

On Friday, the DOH reported that 14 cases of BQ.1 have been detected based on the latest genome sequencing of UP-Philippine Genome Center, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and San Lazaro Hospital from October 28 to November 18.

“The longer you are from getting the vaccine, the earlier you got your primary dose, and you still don’t have a booster, the more vulnerable you are to COVID-19 mutations,” Dr. Rontgene Solante told TeleRadyo.

Solante said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is now manageable because a huge number of the people have been vaccinated.

“We still have vulnerable populations, those with comorbidities, or those who got the primary vaccine but not the booster, we encourage you to get the vaccine for a happy Christmas, so there won’t be virus transmission at home, and also to protect yourselves against severe infection,” he said.

The physician said the public should take advantage of the two-day special vaccination drive that will take place in December.

“The government will be having the National Vaccination Day, I think December 5-7. This is our chance, we need to encourage everyone to get the booster if they haven’t gotten it for us to prepare so that when Christmad comes around, we are better protected against severe infection,” he said.

The BQ.1, which is a sublineage of omicron BA.5, is considered a variant of interest (VOI) by the European Center for Disease Control.

A VOI is coronavirus variant with genetic changes that are predicted or known to alter virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity and immune escape.

Solante said the BQ.1 has so far been detected in 73 countries. It is driving up COVID-19 infections in the US, UK, and parts of Europe.

The possible increase in COVID-19 infections in the country due to the Omicron subvariant BQ.1 may only be less than 5,000 per day, Dr. Edsel Salvana said.

In a public briefing, Salvana said COVID-19 cases may rise with the detection of BQ.1, a sublineage of the highly transmissible Omicron BA.5 subvariant.

However, he said most of these new cases are expected to be mild only if those infected are fully vaccinated and have received their booster shots.

“I think that if BQ.1 does cause a higher number of cases, it’s not that big. Maybe that won’t exceed 5,000 cases, and then most of them will be mild and won’t need to be hospitalized,” Salvana said.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said BQ.1 is “more transmissible and highly immune evasive” compared to other Omicron subvariants.

However, Salvana, who is also a member of the DOH Technical Advisory Group, said there is no evidence to prove yet that the BQ.1 is a more severe subvariant.

“BA.5 is the dominant subvariant in the world. Experts see that it has additional mutations that can increase its immune escape against infections in our vaccines, but there is no evidence that it is more severe,” he said.

Salvana also stressed that the current vaccines available in the country are still effective in preventing severe diseases caused by a COVID-19 infection.

“WHO has also said that the protection of our current vaccines is still effective. Even if it is not the
bivalent, the monovalent or the old vaccine remains effective in preventing severe disease,” he said.

“Although because it’s a new subvariant, and it’s the same lineage as Omicron, there are still more infections that get through but most of these are going to be mild,” he added.

The DOH earlier said they are in the process of negotiations with vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer regarding the procurement of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines that could better protect against the Omicron variant.

The DOH also said these second-generation vaccines would be available in the country by the end of December.

Tags: coronavirusCOVID-19Metro ManilaOCTA Research Group
ADVERTISEMENT
Willie Casas

Willie Casas

Related Posts

Makabayan to Mr. Marcos, Abalos: Fire corrupt BFP officials

byThe Standard
February 6, 2023, 1:26 pm
0
8

Lawmakers of the progressive Makabayan bloc are urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into what they said were the...

Read more

At least 50 dead in Syria after earthquake

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 1:00 pm
0
8
At least 50 dead in Syria after earthquake

At least 50 people have been killed across Syria as buildings collapsed after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that had its epicentre...

Read more

North Korea ruling party to hold key meeting on agriculture

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 12:00 pm
0
8
Taliban govt resumes issuing Afghan passports in Kabul

North Korea's ruling party will hold a key meeting this month to discuss agricultural development, citing the need for "radical...

Read more

7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 11:00 am
0
8
Taliban govt resumes issuing Afghan passports in Kabul

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey on Monday, the US Geological Service said.  The quake struck at...

Read more

US lawmakers clash over Biden’s handling of Chinese balloon

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 9:00 am
0
8
Biden makes emotional appeal for action on gun violence

By Brian Knowlton Republicans savaged Joe Biden on Sunday over his handling of a suspected Chinese spy balloon, while Democrats...

Read more

Hong Kong’s largest national security trial to begin with 47 in dock

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 8:00 am
0
8
Hong Kong’s largest national security trial to begin with 47 in dock

By Su Xinqi The trial of 47 of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy figures begins Monday, in the largest prosecution...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Robots to enhance employee efficiency, customer service in Davao Light
  • Watsons levels up to make shopping more convenient by introducing a new advance technology
  • PLDT High Speed Hitters ready for PVL All-Filipino Conference
  • Startup with 1st plantable bamboo toothbrush wins Shell LiveWIRE grand prize
  • CDC launches revenue share monitoring system for Clark locators
  • Gur Lavi Corp partners with HGC Global Communications to expand customer network
  • Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0
  • Makabayan to Mr. Marcos, Abalos: Fire corrupt BFP officials

Advertisement

Latest News

Gur Lavi Corp partners with HGC Global Communications to expand customer network

byManila Standard
February 6, 2023, 2:03 pm
0
8
Gur Lavi Corp partners with HGC Global Communications to expand customer network

Gur Lavi Corp. (GLC), one of the trailblazing telecommunications distributors in the Philippines, has sealed a partnership with HGC Global...

Read more

Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

byManila Standard
February 6, 2023, 2:00 pm
0
288
Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

Read more

Makabayan to Mr. Marcos, Abalos: Fire corrupt BFP officials

byThe Standard
February 6, 2023, 1:26 pm
0
8

Lawmakers of the progressive Makabayan bloc are urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into what they said were the...

Read more

At least 50 dead in Syria after earthquake

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 1:00 pm
0
8
At least 50 dead in Syria after earthquake

At least 50 people have been killed across Syria as buildings collapsed after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that had its epicentre...

Read more

North Korea ruling party to hold key meeting on agriculture

byAFP
February 6, 2023, 12:00 pm
0
8
Taliban govt resumes issuing Afghan passports in Kabul

North Korea's ruling party will hold a key meeting this month to discuss agricultural development, citing the need for "radical...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App