The number of COVID-19 cases by the end of August could reach 150,000, if certain steps aren't taken to contain the steep rise in infections, particularly in Metro Manila.

“This has to go down, kasama sa projection namin na it will stabilize or go down. If we continue like this, lalagpasan yung 150,000 na projection for sure,” Professor Guido David of UP Institute of Mathematics and OCTA research said on Saturday.

“Mas alarming (ang bilang ng kaso ngayon) kaysa sa aming projection.”

To this end, David's group recommended random testing at barangays to point out hotspots and suggested a thorough analysis of community transmission to detect infection sources.

The UP-OCTA study was conducted together with University of Santo Tomas and Providence College in the United States.

Earlier Saturday, several medical groups called on authorities to consider again placing the National Capital Region under enhanced quarantine.

David said he supports the health workers' plea.

“Kapag hindi nag-improve ang efforts natin, the numbers will go even higher. This is already alarming kasi nagko-complain na ang mga doctors of hospitals being filled. They are becoming overwhelmed, wala tayong nakikitang relief inside right now kasi parami ng parami ang cases,” he said.

“If we continue to open up the economy, we will have to accept na a lot of people will not be able to get medical care, that is a fact,”

“A 30-day or even a 15-day window will be a big help to the frontliners or to the hospital system.”

(More details to follow.)

-- With a report from Isay Reyes, ABS-CBN News