Philippines’ COVID-19 caseload hits 505,939 as death toll tops 10,000

The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines hit 505,939 on Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 1,862 new infections as two laboratories failed to submit data on time.

The death toll also crossed 10,000 after 64 more cases succumbed to COVID-19, bringing total deaths to 10,042.

Recoveries rose to 466,993 after 765 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness, while there are 28,904 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Zamboanga City logged the highest daily increase with 206 new cases, followed by Davao City with 109, Kalinga with 102, Quezon City with 77, and Benguet with 74.

Meanwhile, the DOH reported that the mother and girlfriend of the country’s first case of the UK variant have also tested positive for COVID-19. 

Samples from both individuals have been sent to the Philippine Genome Center for sequencing to determine if they are also carriers of the UK variant.

The DOH said last week that a 29-year-old male resident of Quezon City was found to have the UK variant upon his return to the country from the United Arab Emirates aboard Emirates Flight No. EK 332. 

A total of 13 people linked to the said patient—eight co-passengers and five close contacts—have so far tested positive for COVID-19.—LDF, GMA News