Aklan posts very high positivity for COVID

(Screengrab from Twitter post of Dr. Guido David)

By Sean Rafio

Aklan was one of five provinces in the country that have registered “very high” or more than 20% COVID-19 positivity rate, Octa Research said Sunday.

In a tweet, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David showed data that Aklan’s positivity rate increased from 26.9% on July 9 to 31.9% on July 15.

Positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the virus out of all those tested. The World Health Organization has set a positivity rate benchmark of below 5% for at least two weeks for countries or regions to reopen.

The Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health Development in Western Visayas reported an additional 16 cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of active infections in Aklan to 176.

Other provinces seen surpassing the 20% benchmark are Tarlac (27.5%), Pampanga (23.5%), Nueva Ecija (22.9%), and Laguna (22.55%).

“In provinces where the positivity rate is very high, i.e. above 20%, the public is strongly advised to practice necessary caution to prevent COVID infection,” David said.

Meanwhile, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Isabela, Pangasinan, and Rizal all recorded a positivity rate of over 10%.

Nationally, the country’s positivity rate is at 9.5 percent, the Department of Health said last week.

The Philippines on Saturday registered 2,578 new COVID-19 infections, the highest daily tally since February.

Despite the influx of COVID-19 infections, the DOH said that all areas in the country are still at “low risk” as severe and critical infections, as well as the average daily attack rate, are low.