3,073 new cases push Philippines’ COVID-19 tally over 307,000

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally rose to 307,288 after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 3,073 new infections on Monday.

This marks the first time in six days where over 3,000 new cases were reported.

Metro Manila still logged the highest number of new infections at 1,158, followed by Cavite with 225, Laguna with 203, Rizal with 173, and Batangas with 169.

Ninety-one percent or 2,800 of the newly reported cases caught COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Total recoveries also rose to 252,665 after 163 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 5,381 with 37 new fatalities.

The other 49,242 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 86.4 percent of which are mild, 8.7 percent are asymptomatic, 1.5 percent are severe, and 3.4 percent are in critical condition.

As of September 27, the Philippines had 136 licensed laboratories that had tested over 3.4 million individuals while 47 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied and 23 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to deliver his weekly televised address later on Monday ahead of the expiration of the general community quarantine (GCQ) over Metro Manila and several other areas. 

Four Metro Manila mayors earlier said they want the GCQ to be extended to sustain the gains made against COVID-19.—LDF, GMA News