The country is experiencing a decline in new cases for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), with the seven-day average of new daily cases at 5,834 or an 11-percent decrease compared to the previous week, according to the latest monitoring by OCTA Research.

However, three major cities outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) are seeing spikes in Covid-19 caes.

In its May 19 report, OCTA noted that new cases reported in most areas within the NCR Plus bubble, where the majority of the cases have been reported the previous weeks, are on a downward trend.

NCR Plus also covers the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.

As of May 11 to 17, NCR’s average daily attack rate is 9.91 per 100,000 population, which gives the region a moderate risk classification.

The country’s reproduction number over the past week is 0.80 while NCR’s reproduction number is 0.54. The reproduction number is used to describe the number of people who can get the virus from a Covid-19 positive person.

However, a significant increase in the number of new coronavirus cases was seen in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Iloilo.

New cases in Cagayan de Oro increased by 52 percent with 94 new cases; Davao City increased by 36 percent with 61 new cases and Iloilo City by 99 percent with 58 cases.

Zamboanga still has the highest number of new Covid-19 cases in the past week at 158 cases.