NTF COVID-19 chief implementer sees improvement in NCR’s rate of infection

CALOOCAN CITY, June 29 (PIA) — National Action Plan Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez on Monday said the rate of infection of COVID-19 in Metro Manila “has improved” as validated by the increased tests conducted.

“Metro Manila’s rate of infections has improved. Nakita natin na kahit nasa GCQ tayo,” Galvez said during a Malacañang briefing. This, compared to other areas under a stricter enhanced community quarantine.

“Tumataas po kasi ang ating testing capacity at 13,000 na tayo everyday and we can even reach 15,000 [at] ‘yung may tinatawag po tayo na positivity rate na 7 to 6, imagine kung magkakaroon po tayo ng 10,000 tests per day automatic po na 700 po kaagad ang ating new cases,” he added, explaining that the country is winning in terms of the T3 (test, trace, treat) threshold after citing that the current positivity rate is below six percent, which is below the threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Sa average po natin ngayon, tinataya po natin na 622 po ang average natin na new cases from June to 128, meaning, kung titingnan po natin mas mababa pa ‘yun sa positivity natin.  Meaning it’s a good sign our positivity is only 6.2-percent.

According to the WHO, if a country’s positivity rate is below seven to 10 percent, the COVID-19 situation is improving, said Galvez.

“We are winning. [Around] 622 ang average natin na new cases. Kung bumaba tayo sa 7-10% positivity rate, ibig sabihin gumagana ang ating response,” Galvez said.

“I was very impressed with what the Metro Manila mayors are doing. Even though we are in general community quarantine (GCQ), they are collectively implementing much stricter measures compared to what we saw in Cebu,” Galvez emphasized.

“Maganda ang implementation ng mayors. Kapag alam na nagva-violate ang barangay, may hard lockdown,” he added.

Meanwhile, Galvez said they wanted to beat the UP research team’s prediction of 40,000 cases by June 30 and minimize the recorded COVID-19 related deaths.

“The National Task Force is looking into all COVID-19 data available especially data from UP and some other studies that can help in planning for our COVID-19 response,” Galvez said.

The NTF chief implementer, however, said that their basis for planning a COVID-19 response is the President’s directive to save lives and minimize deaths. (PIA-NCR)