Philippine COVID-19 tally tops 442k with 1,400 new cases

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caseload reached 442,785 on Tuesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 1,400 new infections as nine laboratories failed to submit reports on time.

Benguet registered the highest number of new cases at 101, followed by Davao City with 90, Quezon City with 82, Rizal with 75, and Laguna with 56.

Total recoveries also rose to 408,790 after 139 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness, while the death toll climbed to 8,670 with 98 new fatalities.

There are also 25,325 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Meanwhile, Britain has started its mass COVID-19 vaccination program after becoming the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 

In the Philippines, Food and Drug Administration chief Eric Domingo said 30 percent of Filipinos are still hesitant about being vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The disease has claimed over 1.5 million lives and sickened more than 66.8 million people worldwide. —LDF, GMA News