Commuter in EDSA busway (FILE PHOTO)

OCTA Research said Sunday that the Philippines might record 20,000 new COVID-19 cases in one day within 2 weeks, as virus reproduction rate outside of Metro Manila remains high.

Guido David, spokesperson of OCTA Research group, said it has a reproduction rate (the number of people infected by a single virus patient) outside Metro Manila is 1.45, although it’s slowing down it’s still rising.

While Metro Manila has a reproduction rate of 1.67 compared to 1.9 prior to the two weeks strict enhance community quarantine (ECQ) implemented in the capital region.

“Almost sure na yan kasi ‘di pa less than 1 ang reproduction number natin sa buong bansa.”Guido said.

“May epekto ang ECQ pero ‘di natin nakikita agad-agad ang pagbaba ng bilang ng kaso. Baka by first or second week of September, pababa na ang bilang ng kaso natin sa Metro Manila,” he added.

Last Friday, the country logged a record-high 17,000 new virus cases in one day.

Despite reverting to a less strict quarantine status (MECQ), the government must to implement granular lockdowns, tighten its border controls, and intensify its vaccination, contact tracing, and testing against new variants, he said.

“Nagla-lockdown tayo dahil may pumapasok na variant… Isa sa mga napakahalaga talaga yung international border controls natin. Kung di naman nakakapasok ang variant dito, ‘di naman tayo magkakaroon ng panibagong wave o lockdown,” he said.