Philippines reports 29 new COVID-19 deaths; cases breach 3,000

The total number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases nationwide leapt to 3,018 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 385 new cases and 29 new deaths on Friday.

In its daily update, the Health Department said the latest fatalities brought the death toll up to 136.

According to Dr. Beverly Ho, the special assistant to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the "sudden spike in [the] number of deaths is attributed to the late reporting of previous deaths."

DOH also reported one more patient who has recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 52.

As of Thursday, 1,275 people have tested negative for COVID-19, while there are 1,154 persons under investigation and 6,321 others under monitoring for possible infection.

Cases continue to increase

The DOH on Friday urged the public to "get used to a different kind of normal" while COVID-19 cases continued to rise per day.

"[W]e must get used to a different kind of normal habang wala pa po'ng na didiskubreng vaccine o bakuna laban sa COVID-19 at habang wala pa rin immunity ang sambayanang Pilipino," Ho said at a press briefing.

Ho said it was clear that the COVID-19 cases in the country continued to increase.

"[W]e will see more cases because we will conduct more tests. The number of confirmed cases will continue to rise in the next few days as we are able to test more people," Ho said.

"Malinaw sa atin ngayon na hindi pa po bumababa ang kaso ng COVID-19," she added, adding that this should not be a cause for concern.

She said the Department of Health was working on the encoding the data of the cases to determine the status of the COVID-19 curve in the country.

"Sa tanong na na flatten na ba natin ang curve, patuloy na po natin pinag-iigting ng DOH ang pag-gather at pag-encode ng mga datos upang magkaroon tayo ng mas kumpletong picture," Ho  said.

"Ang ating mga hospital at health facilities ay nag-assign na po ngayon ng data encoder para real time nilang ma-isubmit sa atin ang mga datos at maaga natin ma-confirm ang mga cases," she added.

COVID-19 hotlines

The Lung Center of the Philippines launched its "Ask Force," an online consultation platform for COVID-19, which can be accessed through the hospitals Facebook Page, according to Ho.

Meanwhile, the Philippine General Hospital has launched a 24-hour telemedicine, 155-200, in cooperation with the PLDT.

"Kung kayo po ay merong sintomas o iba pang katanungan about COVID-19, you can dial this number for consultation with medical professionals," Ho said.

The hotline can also be used to donate PPEs and other medical supplies.  -MDM/NB, GMA News