Philippines logs 294 new COVID-19 cases, total up to 38,805

The Philippines on Thursday logged 294 more cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)—52 “fresh” or newly validated and 242 reported late—bringing the total to 38,805.

The Department of Health (DOH) also announced that total recoveries rose to 10,673 after 235 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness, while the death toll climbed to 1,274 with four new fatalities.

Among the fresh cases, 10 are from Metro Manila, 17 are repatriates, while the remaining 25 are spread out across the country.

Of the late cases, 50 are from Metro Manila, 28 are repatriates, while the 164 other patients came from various areas nationwide.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH did not record any new cases from Region VII.

Vergeire said the low number of new cases reported on Thursday was caused by an adjustment in the DOH’s reporting protocol to allow the Epidemiology Bureau (EB) more time to assess the data.

“Mula po sa dati na 24 hours ay 19 hours’ worth of data lamang ang mga numero natin ngayon dahil nga po tayo ay nagbago ng proseso… Ito po ay pansamantalang adjustment lamang,” Vergeire said in a briefing.

As of June 30, the Philippines has 54 certified polymerase chain reaction facilities and 20 GeneXpert laboratories that have tested a total of 666,678 individuals.

Vergeire earlier said the DOH would look into why some laboratories have failed to submit reports in the past few days.

Meanwhile, 1,321 or 37.17 percent of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients are currently occupied while 1,975 or 24.30 percent of mechanical ventilators are in use nationwide.

Vergeire noted that hospitals in Cebu City, the area with the highest number of cases nationwide, are nearing a critical level due to the surge in infections. —LDF/NB, GMA News