MANILA, Philippines — Twelve Metro Manila cities have reported a reproductive number of greater than one, which means a higher number of people can contract the virus from a single infected COVID-19 patient, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday. “Sa R-naught (R0) or reproductive number, may nadagdag na apat [na cities], so labing dalawa lahat na may R-naut na greater than one,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during an online DOH press conference, explaining the reproductive rate of COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila. ADVERTISEMENT(There are 4 more cities with high R-naught which means 12 cities in Metro Manila have R-naut greater than one.) Aside from the 12 cities, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are still monitoring other cities in the National Capital Region as well because there was no progress in the decrease of COVID-19 cases. DOH, however, has yet to specify the cities with a high reproduction rate of the severe respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer December 16, 2020 08:15 UTC