INDEPENDENT Octa Research has backtracked after previously projecting that the National Capital Region (NCR) will already see the peak in the latest coronavirus disease (Covid-19) surge this week.In a social media post, Octa fellow Dr. Guido David said they can no longer project when the NCR will see the peak in Covid-19 cases.”A few days ago, we reported that the daily positivity rate in the NCR may have peaked,” said David. “It is not clear at this time when the peak will be reached in the NCR.”David said this was after the positivity rate in the region saw a reversal of trends in the course of the week.”On July 15, the daily positivity rate reached 14 percent, and the next three days showed lower daily positivity rates,” he said.”However, the positivity rate jumped in July 19 and now shows an increasing trend, which hit 14.6 percent on July 20,” he added.Worse, David said, is that it is unclear why the surge in the NCR appears to have prolonged.”It is not yet clear what is driving this change in trends,” he said.”Cases are now rising in many parts of the country,” added David.Earlier in the week, David expressed belief that the latest Covid-19 surge is “nearing its endgame” in the NCR.But on Wednesday, July 20, Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that their own projections show cases in the NCR still increasing by the end of July. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)