Philippines’ COVID-19 cases top 331,000 as deaths hit 6,000

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally rose to 331,869 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 2,363 new infections, marking the fourth consecutive day in which less than 3,000 new cases were recorded.

Total recoveries rose to 274,318 after 697 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness as the death toll leapt to 6,069 with 144 new fatalities, 47 of whom died in October while the rest died between July and September.

“Moreover, 48 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” the DOH added.

The remaining 51,482 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 85.7 percent of which are mild, 9.8 percent are asymptomatic, 1.4 percent are severe, and 3.1 percent are in critical condition.

Metro Manila still logged the highest number of newly reported cases at 858, followed by Cavite with 309, Batangas with 139, Rizal with 112, and Bulacan with 97.

Seventy-nine percent or 1,869 of the latest infections contracted COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

The DOH said 45 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied and 23 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use as of October 7.

Meanwhile, experts from the University of the Philippines said the country has managed to sustain the downward trend of new COVID-19 infections. 

However, they also urged the government to tighten quarantine restrictions in 11 areas considered “high risk” due to their rising daily attack rate. 

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the government’s pandemic response, said “granular lockdowns” will be imposed instead of sweeping community quarantines. —LDF, GMA News