Philippines logs 1,202 new COVID-19 cases; total rises to 422,915

The Philippines’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally rose to 422,915 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,202 new infections as eight laboratories failed to submit data on time.

Davao City had the highest number of new cases at 137, followed by Quezon City with 68, Batangas with 59, Laguna with 54, and Cavite with 47.

The total number of recoveries also rose to 386,955 after 183 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 8,215 with 31 new fatalities.

“Moreover, 12 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths. There's also one case that was previously reported as death but has been validated as recovered,” the DOH added.

The remaining 27,745 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 83.7 percent of which are mild, 8.2 percent are asymptomatic, 2.7 percent are severe, and 5.1 percent are in critical condition.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government will vaccinate

Thirty-five million Filipinos, including frontline workers and those residing in COVID-19 hotspots, will be prioritized in the distribution of vaccines. 

The DOH also said that British firm AstroZeneca is interested in conducting clinical trials for its candidate vaccine in the Philippines. 

Meanwhile, the government said COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction tests must only cost P3,8000 to P5,000.—LDF, GMA News