The Department of Health (DoH) is keeping a close watch on Metro Manila after 12 cities in the capital region recorded an alarming rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergiere told a media forum on Wednesday that initially, eight cities posted a reproduction number or R0 (pronounced “R naught”) of more than 1.
An R0 of 1 or higher is an indication that the infection rate has increased in the past two weeks.
“This is a warning signal for us to start focusing and start strict monitoring among all other cities in Metro Manila,” Vergeire said.
THIS FAR Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd uses a measuring stick to show the distance between two persons during a visit to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange on Dec. 7 , 2020. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN