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Metro Manila's COVID-19 positivity rate up 12.3 pct - OCTA

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Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Passengers wear face mask inside LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao Station in Quezon City on April 25, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/27/20230425-lrt2-mask-mandate-md-5.jpg"/><figcaption>Passengers wear face mask inside LRT-2 Araneta Center-Cubao Station in Quezon City on April 25, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA — Metro Manila&#x27;s COVID-19 positivity rate or the percentage of tests turning out positive for the virus climbed this week, a think tank said Thursday.According to Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research, the capital region&#x27;s positivity rate increased to 12.3 percent on April 25 from 8.1 percent recorded on April 18.&quot;Medyo significant &#x27;yung itinaas ng bilang ng kaso,&quot; he told TeleRadyo&#x27;s &quot;Sakto&quot;.The World Health Organization recommends a 5-percent threshold for COVID-19 positivity rate.David cited multiple reasons for the possible uptick in coronavirus infections, including waning immunity, decreased compliance to health protocols and increased mobility.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/25/23/new-covid-19-variant-arcturus-detected-in-philippines">Philippines detects first case of omicron subvariant XBB.1.16</a></li></ul>He also raised concern on the possible spread of omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, known as &quot;Arcturus&quot;.XBB.1.16 is a descendent lineage of XBB, a recombinant of two BA.2 descendent lineages.According to the Department of Health, the new COVID-19 variant has the ability to evade immunity and is believed to be more transmissible.The WHO designated the XBB.1.16 as a variant of interest or VOI last week following a sustained increase in its prevalence. It has so far spread to 33 countries.David said he knew 2 people who developed pink eye or conjunctivitis after getting infected with COVID-19.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/26/23/doh-first-arcturus-case-is-from-iloilo-has-recovered">DOH: First &#x27;Arcturus&#x27; case in PH is from Iloilo, patient has recovered</a></li></ul>Early reports claimed the Arcturus variant could cause conjunctivitis, especially among children.&quot;This is a highly contagious subvariant. Kahit hindi naman magiging severe, hassle pa rin magka-COVID,&quot; David said.But the DOH has said the World Health Organization &quot;has yet to confirm symptoms of the omicron sublineage XBB.1.1.6 variant such as &#x27;sticky eyes&#x27; or conjunctivitis.&quot;&quot;In general, COVID-19 exhibits flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, headache, body pain, and diarrhea – among others,&quot; the agency said in a statement Wednesday.In past briefings, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that the positivity rate should not be used as the sole indicator to measure the country&#x27;s COVID-19 situation.Demand for laboratory testing is falling as many people use antigen tests or choose to self-isolate to stop the spread of the virus, she said.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2595604" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Metro Manila's COVID-19 positivity rate or the percentage of tests turning out positive for the virus climbed this week, a think tank said Thursday.

Metro Manila's COVID-19 positivity rate up 12.3 pct - OCTA

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Metro Manila's COVID-19 positivity rate up 12.3 pct - OCTA

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 27, 2023 09:58 AM PHT

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Updated Apr 27, 2023 11:04 AM PHT

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OCTA Research

Guido David

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coronavirus

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NCR

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