MANILA, Philippines — As the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections approaches 10,000 cases per day, the OCTA Research Group said Metro Manila may have to revert to a softer version of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) if the current bubble imposed over the so-called National Capital Region Plus or NCR+ fails to stop the surge.

Yesterday, the Department of Health (DOH) logged a total of 9,838 new cases, another highest daily tally since the pandemic started last year and nearly five times the 2,037 cases recorded last March 1 when the country started seeing a rising trend in cases.

The OCTA Research Group warned earlier that if the trend continues, the country would be seeing 11,000 cases per day by the end of the month and could reach as high as 8.5 million in Metro Manila by June 30.

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The DOH is eyeing poor compliance with health protocols and the detection of new COVID-19 variants as among the factors that contributed to the steep rise in the number of cases. At present, the country has the United Kingdom or B.1.1.7 variant, South Africa or B.1.351 variant, Brazil or P.1 variant and P.3 variant, which was first detected in the Philippines.

Even with the new record, the DOH said seven laboratories were not able to submit their test results.