Philippines' COVID-19 cases near 520,000

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caseload hit 519,575 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,169 new infections as six laboratories failed to submit data on time.

Quezon City saw the highest daily increase with 57 new cases, followed by Isabela with 54 and Manila, Davao City, and Rizal with 42 new infections each.

Recoveries now total 475,596 after 60 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 10,552 with 71 new fatalities.

There are also 33,427 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

The Food and Drug Administration earlier approved AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the country. 

The British-Swedish drugmaker is the second to obtain emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 jab after Pfizer-BioNTech.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has called for a quick and precise rollout of vaccines in February to avoid wastage. —LDF, GMA News