1,799 new cases bring Philippines’ COVID-19 tally over 420,000

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caseload increased to 420,614 on Monday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,799 new infections as seven laboratories failed to submit data on time.

The areas with the highest number of new cases were Cavite with 154, Rizal with 114, Quezon City with 99, Bulacan with 76, and Laguna with 67.

Total recoveries also rose to 386,604 after 135 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness.

The death toll also climbed to 8,173 with 50 new fatalities.

“Moreover, 16 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths,” the DOH added.

The remaining 25,837 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 83.5 percent of which are mild, 7.8 percent are asymptomatic, 2.9 percent are severe, and 5.5 percent are in critical condition.

Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said clinical trials for potential COVID-19 vaccines may start in the Philippines in December. 

Malacañang earlier said the government has already prepared the initial list of recipients for the vaccine once it becomes available in the country. —LDF, GMA News