The National Capital Region (NCR) in the Philippines has seen an increase in its COVID-19 positivity rate from 2.2% on March 11 to 3.2% on March 18. However, it remains below the recommended level of 5% by the World Health Organization, indicating lower transmission. In contrast, two provinces in southern Philippines, Misamis Oriental and South Cotabato, have reported increased positivity rates. The Philippines recorded 185 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, marking the 12th consecutive day with more than 100 new daily cases and the fourth straight day with over 150 cases.
