Philippines’ COVID-19 tally tops 85,000 with 1,874 new cases

The number of Filipinos infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) breached the 85,000 mark on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 1,874 new cases, bringing the total to 85,486.

This marks the 15th straight day during which at least 1,300 new infections were recorded.

The five provinces with the highest number of new cases were Metro Manila with 728, Cebu with 325, Laguna with 130, Iloilo with 67, and Rizal with 53.

Total recoveries also rose to 26,996 after 388 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 1,962 with 16 new fatalities.

There are also 56,528 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 90.1 percent of which are mild, 9 percent are asymptomatic, 0.5 percent are severe, and 0.4 percent are in critical condition.

The DOH said figures reported on Wednesday were based on data submitted by 83 out of the 91 operational laboratories.

The department also removed 61 duplicate cases from the total tally of infections.

The Philippines still has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases across Southeast Asia behind Indonesia with 102,051 infections.

The country has also inched closer to the COVID-19 tally of China, the epicenter of the outbreak, which has so far logged 87,457 cases according to the World Health Organization.

Despite the continued rise in cases, the government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force earlier approved the partial reopening of clinics offering aesthetic services and cosmetic dentistry, gyms, and internet cafes starting August 1. 

Malacañang previously said Metro Manila’s return to a modified enhanced community quarantine was not a “foregone conclusion,” citing an improvement in the case doubling time, even after experts projected over 85,000 cases by July 31. 

Earlier on Wednesday, the Palace admitted that the Philippines would not be able to “beat” the prediction of University of the Philippines experts. 

President Rodrigo Duterte is also expected to announce “major changes” to the country’s coronavirus response on Thursday. —LDF, GMA News