The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said that COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila have not yet peaked, countering the initial projection made by a fellow of the OCTA Research. 

“At this point, in our analysis, hindi pa natin nakikita na nagpi-peak na ang kaso. Pinag-aaralan pa po nating maigi ‘yan,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the government’s Laging Handa briefing. 

Vergeire reacted to an observation made by OCTA Research fellow Guido David who said on Twitter that “early indications are that the surge may have already peaked in the NCR.” 

According to David, the reproduction number, or the rate at which the virus spreads, has decreased to 1.22. 

Meanwhile, the positivity rate, or the percentage of people who test positive for COVID-19, has dropped to 24%. 

But the researcher cautioned that “it is not 100% clear that we have already peaked” as the trends are still preliminary. 

The DOH urged the public to continue complying with minimum public health protocols and get vaccinated against COVID-19 to stem the spread of the virus. 

The Philippines has so far reported 2.32 million COVID-19 infections, including 36,328 deaths since the pandemic began. There were 188,108 active cases or 8.1% of the total.