MANILA, Philippines — According to OCTA Research, the rate of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces has slowed, but the virus’s transmission has accelerated in other highly populated places.

When it comes to Metro Manila and the bordering provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna, OCTA Research fellow David remarked, “While growth rates have moderated in NCR Plus, they are still growing in numerous highly urbanized communities outside NCR Plus.”

From January 12 to 18, according to David, the capital region had a 10% increase in the number of cases. The reproduction rate, or the number of others that a COVID-19-positive person can infect, was 2.07 in Metro Manila.

The cities with the highest growth rates from January 12 to 18 were Tacloban City (469 percent), Cebu City (378 percent), Davao City (305 percent), Iloilo City (281 percent), and Baguio City (269 percent ), according to statistics from OCTA Research.

Even though the increase of cases was slowing down, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated Tuesday that the Philippines remained at critical risk from COVID-19.

The declining trend in the City of Manila, according to OCTA’s David, is “now apparent.”

In the capital city, the average number of new cases per day fell by 23% from 2,152 to 1,658, and the number of cases reproduced fell to 1.5.

Besides Manila, San Juan and Malabon both experienced negative one-week growth rates. To maintain the trends, inhabitants in the NCR must continue to be cautious in adhering to public health norms “David stated.