1,574 new COVID-19 cases push Philippine tally to over 441,000

The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines hit 441,399 on Monday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,574 new infections as 10 laboratories failed to submit data on time.

Davao City recorded the highest number of new cases at 187, followed by Rizal with 96, Pampanga with 80, Quezon City with 69, and Pasig City with 59.

Recoveries now total 408,702 after 80 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness, while the death toll climbed to 8,572 with 18 new fatalities.

There are also 24,125 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Meanwhile, the candidate COVID-19 vaccines of American firm Johnson & Johnson and Chinese company Clover have secured the approval of the Philippines’ Ethics Review Board and will now need to hurdle the Vaccine Experts Panel.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said COVID-19 vaccination in the country could begin in the first half of 2021 in the “best-case scenario.”

Malacañang also said President Rodrigo Duterte was willing to get himself vaccinated against COVID-19 once a vaccine is approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration.—AOL, GMA News