1,184 new COVID-19 cases push Philippines’ total to 553,424

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 1,184 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, bringing the nation’s tally to 553,424, as three laboratories failed to submit data on time.

The DOH also reported that total recoveries climbed to 512,033 after 271 more successfully battled the illness while 53 new fatalities brought the death toll to 11,577.

Four duplicate cases were also removed from the total case count while 30 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths.

Of the remaining 29,814 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 85.4 percent are mild, 8.5 percent are asymptomatic, 2.6 percent are severe, and 2.6 percent are in critical condition.

Data from the DOH also showed that 62 percent of the country’s intensive care unit beds are available while 81 percent of the mechanical ventilators are ready for use.

The Health Department earlier announced that more than 180,000 health workers and millions of senior citizens, indigents, and uniformed personnel have so far been included in the government’s vaccine master list.

A total of 34 hospitals across Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao will also be part of the initial rollout of 117,000 doses from Pfizer-BioNTech.

Malacañang, however, said there is still no arrival date for the vaccines.—LDF, GMA News