Philippines' COVID-19 deaths top 600 as cases rise to 8,928

The death toll due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines surpassed 600 on Saturday, after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 24 new fatalities, bringing the total to 603.

However, the number of recoveries has kept its lead over the deaths with 40 more patients surviving the virus, bringing the total to 1,124.

Meanwhile, the DOH has recorded 156 new infections, bringing the nationwide tally to 8,928. Of these, there are 7,201 active cases.

As of Thursday, a total of 1,694 health care workers tested positive for the virus, almost 20 percent of the country's confirmed cases which stood at 8,488 as of April 30.

The DOH had said that the continued increase in the number of infected medical frontliners may lead to a shortage of health care workers in the country.  —LBG, GMA News