Philippines' COVID-19 cases rise to 7,579 with 862 recoveries, 501 deaths

The Philippines reported 285 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 7,579 as Luzon marks its sixth week under quarantine.

Likewise, the number of patients who have recovered from the respiratory illness climbed to 862 after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 70 new recoveries.

The death toll also rose to 501 with seven new fatalities.

Of all the active COVID-19 cases, 220 asymptomatic and 2,467 mildly symptomatic are pending admission while 627 asymptomatic, and 2,809 mildly symptomatic patients have already been admitted to hospitals.

Data from the DOH as of Friday show that 72,794 people have been tested for COVID-19, 87.6 percent of whom tested negative while 12.3 percent were positive.

Eighteen laboratories across the country have so far received accreditation to conduct independent testing. 

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has also resumed its full operations after staff who contracted COVID-19 recovered from the disease. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LBG, GMA News