7 highly urbanized cities log record high COVID-19 cases

Seven highly urbanized cities outside the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded their highest number of new COVID-19 cases on January 23, indicating that the surge has not yet peaked in these areas, according to OCTA Research.

The cities that registered record-high new cases were Bacolod City (347 cases), Baguio City (902 cases), Butuan City (310 cases), Davao City (1,831 cases), General Santos City (188 cases), Iloilo City (793 cases), and Mandaue City (285 cases).

Davao City reported the highest number of new cases with 1,831, followed by Baguio City with 902, and Iloilo City with 793.

Baguio City had the highest average daily attack rate (ADAR) at 161.90 per 100,000 population, with Iloilo City following at 95.84.

The number of new cases per day outside Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON accounted for 58 percent of the country's total as of January 23.

However, negative one-week growth rates were recorded in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan, suggesting a slowdown in virus transmission in these areas.