The positivity rate for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the National Capital Region (NCR) is down to 7.4 percent as of Nov. 15, the OCTA Research Group said Thursday.

OCTA Research Group fellow Dr. Guido David tweeted the region’s positivity rate or the number of persons testing positive for Covid-19 was 7.8 percent as of Nov. 8.

“Less than 5 percent positivity rate is less likely at this time and there is some possibility of an uptick in cases,” David said. “We still have to observe the trend next week.”

He also emphasized that the slower rate of decrease indicates a plateauing of the trend. However, less than 5 percent positivity rate is still attainable if the downtrend continues.

NCR’s reproduction number increased from 0.83 as of Nov. 6 to 1.02 as of Nov. 13.

Its weekly growth rate increased from -18 percent to 11 percent as new cases increased from 240 to 268.

“This observed spike in cases is mainly due to lower testing volume due to the recent holiday,” David said.

However, he said that “hospital utilization remained very low and the NCR remains at low risk (for Covid-19) at this time.” (PNA)