Philippines’ COVID-19 cases top 360,000 with 1,640 new infections

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caseload increased to 360,775 on Tuesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 1,640 new infections as 15 laboratories failed to submit data on time.

The areas with the highest number of new infections were Cavite and Quezon City with 86, followed by Batangas with 69, Bulacan with 62, and Manila City with 61.

Ninety-one percent or 1,487 of the newly reported cases contracted COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Total recoveries also rose to 310,642 after 369 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 6,690 with 17 new fatalities.

“Moreover, four cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths,” the DOH added.

The remaining 43,443 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 83 percent of which are mild, 11.6 percent are asymptomatic, 2 percent are severe, and 3.4 percent are in critical condition.

The DOH said 48 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied and 23 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use as of October 19.

Meanwhile, experts identified Makati, Baguio, Mandaluyong, and Lucena as high-risk areas for COVID-19 due to their rising number of infections and high rate of hospital occupancy. 

The national reproduction rate has remained below 1, but the Philippines still ranks 20th worldwide in the number of COVID-19 cases. —LDF, GMA News