According to OCTA Research Fellow Guido David, the nationwide COVID-19 positivity rate has increased slightly to 15.9% as of May 2, 2023, from 15.2% on April 20, 2023. Citing data from the Department of Health, David projected that there will be 700 to 900 new cases on May 4. In Metro Manila, the COVID-19 positivity rate is 18.8%. As of May 2, there are 7,037 active COVID-19 cases nationwide, with a total of 4,095,468 cases, 4,021,987 recoveries, and 66,444 deaths. The COVID-19 hospital bed occupancy rate is at 17.2% (4,207 hospital beds occupied). To address the increasing infections, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has considered making face masks mandatory throughout the country. Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 developments by reading the latest news at Inquirer.net.
