Philippines enters top 20 countries with most COVID-19 cases

The Philippines has entered the list of 20 countries with the most number of people infected with the novel coronavirus worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

Based on the latest count by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), the country has 314,079 COVID-19 cases as of Thursday, October 1 — the same number reflected in the Johns Hopkins count — with 254,223 recoveries and 5,562 deaths.

In the Johns Hopkins list, the Philippines overtook Pakistan, which fell to the 21st spot with 312,806 cases. At the 19th spot is Italy with 314,861 cases.

The United States remains at the top of the list with 7,273,244 cases, followed by India with 6,312,584, and Brazil with 4,810,935.

In the Philippines, Metro Manila still logged the highest number of new infections at 930, followed by Cavite with 238, Rizal with 128, Laguna with 123, and Negros Occidental with 103.

The DOH also said 83% or 2,010 of the  2,415 newly reported cases contracted COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

As of September 30, the Philippines has 138 licensed laboratories that had tested over 3.5 million individuals while 46 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied and 25 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.

Metro Manila, considered as the epicenter of the pandemic in the Philippines, will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the month of October.

Experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) had earlier warned against putting Metro Manila under a lenient form of community quarantine, which is being pushed by several sectors to jumpstart the economy. 

Under the GCQ, more industries are allowed to open. Religious gatherings are also allowed but only 10% of the venue capacity may be occupied.

Aside from Metro Manila, other areas under GCQ are Batangas, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Iligan.

Under the GCQ, more industries are allowed to open. Religious gatherings are also allowed but only 10% of the venue capacity may be occupied. —KBK, GMA News