THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positivity rate in the province of Cebu has further eased although it remains under moderate risk, the Octa Research group said on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.Octa fellow Dr. Guido David said the positivity rate of Cebu went down to 6.2 percent as of September 3 from 8.9 percent on August 27.He said Cebu “had the lowest” positivity rate among the provinces outside of Luzon.Iloilo’s positivity rate is also at moderate risk, 7.2 percent from 9.5 percent on August 25.Positivity rate refers to the number of individuals testing positive for the virus after getting tested versus those who tested negative.The provinces of Palawan and Zamboanga del Sur, which has a positivity rate of 30.8 and 20.4 percent, respectively, remained under very high risk classification.The positivity rates of Aklan, Bohol, Capiz, Lanao del Norte, Negros Oriental and South Cotabato downgraded to high risk from very high risk.Davao del Sur, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental and Oriental Mindoro remained under high risk classification in terms of positivity rates, while the province of Davao del Norte escalated to high risk at 10.4 percent from moderate risk on August 27.In the National Capital Region (NCR), the positivity rate slightly went down to 12.1 percent on September 3 from 12.9 percent on August 27.It is under high risk classification.The positivity rates of Bataan and Pangasinan went down to 6.6 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively. Pangasinan was previously under high risk, while Bataan maintained its risk classification.Among the provinces in Luzon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac remained under very high risk classification.Along with NCR under high risk classification are the provinces of Benguet (12.7 percent), Bulacan (10.5 percent), Cagayan (19.6 percent), Cavite (11.7 percent), Ilocos Norte (11.4 percent), Isabela (19.6 percent), La Union (16.6 percent), Laguna (13.3 percent), Pampanga (15.4 percent), Quezon (10.1 percent), Rizal (12.0 percent) and Zambales (16.3 percent).From August 29 to September 4, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 17,145 new Covid-19 cases, 10 percent lower than the new cases recorded during the week prior.The country has a total of severe and critical admission of 768 or 10.1 percent of the total Covid-19 admissions.The non-intensive care utilization is at 29.3 percent, while ICU bed occupancy is at 23.5 percent.The DOH also verified 354 more deaths due to Covid-19. (SunStar Philippines)