MANILA, (PIA) -- Coronavirus disease watchdog OCTA Research has warned that Metro Manila is now experiencing a "serious surge" in COVID-19 cases.

OCTA made the assessment after the Department of Health (DoH) logged 8,735 new COVID-19 cases in the country on Sunday, Aug. 1.

Based on the DOH data, it was the third straight time daily cases have breached the 8,000 thresholds.

OCTA said the seven-day average cases in Metro Manila were at 1,279, higher by 40 percent than last week's 913. The reproduction number also rose from 1.29 to 1.52.

Likewise, COVID-19 bed occupancy in hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) was up by seven percent from the previous week.

OCTA said at the current rate, hospital bed occupancy in Metro Manila will reach 70 percent in less than five weeks, and ICU bed occupancy will hit 70 percent in less than three weeks.

Metro Manila will be placed into the stricter enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20. The capital region is currently under a general community quarantine with "heightened and additional" restrictions until August 5.

OCTA, which had called for a two-week "circuit breaker" or hard lockdown to stop the further spread of the virus, considers Pateros and the cities of Makati, San Juan, Malabon, Navotas, Las Piñas, Pasig, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Quezon, Marikina and Caloocan as "high risk areas."

The new cases bring the total caseload to 1.598 million, 63,646 of which are active.

Of the active cases, 94 percent are mild.

The DoH also reported 5,930 new recoveries for a total of 1.506 million, and the death toll climbing to 28,016 with 127 new fatalities.

The DoH also said almost half of the isolation and ward beds in Metro Manila are occupied. (PIA-NCR)