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Philippine COVID-19 cases climb to 56,259 as 2,124 more reported


The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have reached over 56,000 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,124 more infections.

In a press briefing that was supposed to be held on Sunday afternoon but instead held on Monday morning, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there were also 162 new deaths and 2,009 new recoveries.

In total, the country has 56,259 confirmed cases, with 1,534 deaths and 16,046 recoveries as of Sunday, July 12.

Delay in reporting

Vergeire attributed the delay in reporting on and increase in the number of newly-recorded cases to data harmonization efforts of DOH, the laboratories conducting testing and the local government units (LGUs).

“Kung malaki ang nakita nating pagtaas [ng kaso] kumpara nitong mga nakaraan araw at linggo, these are expected results of data harmonization efforts,” Vergeire said.

“Ang main trigger talaga ay iyong laboratories, at ang ating mga LGUs naman ang mas may direktang access sa information at pangyayari sa kani-kanilang lugar patungkol sa COVID-19, kaya kadalasan may mga naitatala silang datos na hindi pa [agad] na-i-ta-transmit sa DOH,” Vergeire added.

For Sunday, only 82% of the laboratories were able to submit their reports on COVID-19 test results per Vergeire.

“There are also times that although they have submitted data, there is incompleteness of data. Halimbawa, iyong case investigation form, hindi puwede mawala ang address [ng COVID-19 patient roon],” Vergeire pointed out.

“Pero magandang balita na napapabuti na natin ang pagkulekta ng tama at mabilis na datos mula sa ating mga laboratoryo, hospital at LGUs para agad tayong makapaganunsiyo,” Vergeire added.

Deaths

Vergeire said that while 162 deaths were registered on July 12, this does not mean that these deaths occurred recently. 

The 162 newly recorded deaths were found in the following areas:

  • 99 in Region 7
  • 37 in National Capital Region
  • 6 in Region 3
  • 3 in Region 4A,
  • 2 from Region 8
  • 2 from Region 9 and
  • 1 from Bangsamoro Region

“Eighteen of the deaths ang nangyari noong nakaraang linggo at 33 po ang nangyari noong unang linggo ng July,” she said.

In a statement on Sunday night, the DOH said it will release COVID-19 case updates for July 12 on Monday morning instead, citing a “significant volume of data” that still needs to be processed. — KBK/RSJ GMA News

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