Philippines’ COVID-19 tally reaches 550,860 with 1,685 new infections

The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday that 1,685 persons have tested positive for COVID-19, raising the country’s total tally to 550,860, as six laboratories failed to submit data on time.

Two new fatalities also brought the death toll to 11,517.

Meanwhile, total recoveries rose to 511,755 as 14 more patients defeated the respiratory illness.

The DOH noted that one duplicate case was removed from the total count, while two cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

There are also 27,588 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, of which 86.6% are mild, 6.9% are asymptomatic, 2.8% are critical, 2.8% are severe, and 0.86% are moderate.

Data from the DOH also showed that 62% of the country’s intensive care unit beds are available while 80% of the mechanical ventilators are ready for use.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said though the country now has 44 UK variant cases, there is not yet enough evidence to say there is community transmission of the more infectious variant.

Vergeire also reiterated that no travel restrictions for travelers from countries with the UK variant will be imposed soon.

She assured the public that the government has put “safeguards” in place to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

The Philippines aims to vaccinate up to 70 million Filipinos this year with the rollout expected to begin this month. Frontline health workers will be the first to receive the vaccines, according to the government.—AOL, GMA News