2,426 new COVID-19 cases bring Philippines' tally to 311,694

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally rose to 311,694 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 2,426 new infections.

The bulk of the newly reported cases were still recorded in Metro Manila with 887 new infections, followed by Cavite with 201, Rizal with 147, Negros Occidental with 115, and Batangas with 99.

Eighty-seven percent or 2,113 of the latest cases contracted COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries jumped to 253,488 after 585 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease.

The death toll also climbed to 5,504 with 58 new fatalities, 42 of whom died in September, 12 in August, and four in July.

“Moreover, 14 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified to deaths after final validation,” the DOH added.

The other 52,702 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 86.4 percent of which are mild, 9 percent are asymptomatic, 1.4 percent are severe, and 3.2 percent are in critical condition.

As of September 29, 49 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied and 23 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.

The Metro Manila Council earlier said quarantine restrictions may be loosened in November if the number of infections continues to go down. 

Metro Manila and several other areas are under general community quarantine until October 31.—LDF, GMA News