The OCTA Research Group on Thursday said the Covid-19 reproduction number in the National Capital Region (NCR) has decreased to 0.99 and continued to show signs of improvement.

In a television interview, OCTA Research Group Fellow Guido David noted the decrease was from 1.03 reproduction number recorded from Sept. 15 to 21.

“Huling nag-less than one ‘yan nung July pa, nung bago nagka-surge. Sana tuluy-tuloy na ang recovery natin (The last time it [reproduction number] was less than one was last July before the surge. I hope we continue to recover),” David said.

There are five areas that also showed a decrease in reproduction number — Cavite with 0.87; Laguna, 0.90; Bulacan, 0.86; Cebu City, 0.66; and Davao City, 1.

Reproduction number refers to the number of individuals that one Covid-19 case can infect.

David also said the healthcare utilization in the NCR is likely to improve by the early part of October based on projections.

In a separate televised public briefing Thursday, David reported the NCR’s seven-day new cases average is 20 percent lower than the previous week at 4,674. Last week, the new cases in NCR averaged 5,800.

NCR’s daily average of cases is expected to decrease to 4,000 by end of September, he added.

“By October, baka nasa 2,000 to 3,000 na lang ‘yung daily average natin. ‘Yan ang mga inaasahan natin (it could be at 2,000 to 3,000 daily average only. That’s what we’re expecting),” he said.

The NCR is currently under Alert Level 4 which allowed some businesses — including dine-in restaurants — to resume operations at limited capacity. (PNA)