THE National Capital Region (NCR) and 19 other areas in the country are currently seeing “high” to “very high” positivity rates in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) tests.Data from the independent Octa Research showed that there are 10 provinces with “very high” positivity rates, as of July 27.Having the highest positivity rate is Capiz with 48.8 percent, followed by Aklan (33.1 percent), Tarlac (33.1 percent), Isabela (31.7 percent), Laguna (30.6 percent), Cavite (26.5 percent), Antique (25.2 percent), Pampanga (25.2 percent), Nueva Ecija (23.4 percent), and Cagayan (20.9 percent).Metro Manila and nine other provinces, on the other hand, have “high” positivity rates, according to Octa.The list includes Bataan (19.4 percent), La Union (19 percent), Rizal (18.9 percent), Pangasinan (18.3 percent), Benguet (15.8 percent), Batangas (15.4 percent), NCR (14.5 percent), Iloilo (14.1 percent), Bulacan (13.5 percent), and Cebu (10.4 percent).To note, the World Health Organization has set a threshold of five percent for positivity rate.Out of the 20 areas, three had changes in their positivity rate classifications, namely, Cagayan, Cebu, and Rizal.Cagayan went from “high” to “very high” positivity rate from July 23 to 27.Going from “moderate” to “high” positivity rate is Cebu.Improving from “very high” to “high” positivity rate is Rizal. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)