Philippine COVID-19 cases near 460,000; recoveries soar to 429,134

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally rose to 459,789 on Sunday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 1,754 new infections as 12 laboratories failed to submit reports on time.

Quezon City tallied the highest number of new cases at 163, followed by Rizal with 104, Benguet with 83, Laguna likewise with 83, and Bulacan with 61.

Total recoveries also rose to 429,134 after 8,080 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease.

The DOH earlier said it would report time-based recoveries every Sunday as part of “Oplan Recovery,” where asymptomatic and mild cases are re-tagged as recovered after completing 14 days of quarantine without developing symptoms.

The death toll also increased to 8,947 with 36 new fatalities.

“Moreover, 25 cases that were previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” the DOH added.

The remaining 21,708 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office disavowed a circulating memorandum bearing its logo which falsely claimed that the modified enhanced community quarantine would be reimposed in Metro Manila.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año likewise belied the rumors, calling the memorandum “fake news.”  — DVM, GMA News