COVID-19 cases in PTV now at 19

State-run broadcaster People's Television Network has recorded a total of 19 active cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, March 17, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said.

Earlier, PTV said it will not be holding the regular Laging Handa briefing on the government’s COVID-19 response from March 17 to 21 due extensive disinfection amid rising COVID-19 cases.

PTV said the station will go off air on March 17, and resume broadcast on March 18 and that its flagship programs Laging Handa Public Briefing and Ulat Bayan “will be back on air on Monday, March 22.”

The PCOO said PTV has already recorded 84 recoveries and two fatalities from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in the PCOO, there are a total of five active cases so far. Fifty-three employees have already recovered, while one has died.

There is also one active case and 10 recoveries in the Philippine Information Agency, while one active case and 22 recoveries were reported in Radio Television Malacañang.

In the News and Information Bureau, 13 have already recovered while one patient is still undergoing treatment or quarantine.

In the APO Production Unit, a total of 12 recoveries were recorded and one death.

There is also one active case in the Bureau of Broadcast Services. Ten have already recovered from the illness.

Further, the Bureau of Communication Services and the National Printing Office has reported three and 34 recoveries, respectively.

The Philippines is seeing a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, which the Department of Health said is driven by new coronavirus variants and relaxed adherence to health protocols.

The country has so far reported a total of 635,698 cases of COVID-19 with 561,099 recoveries, 12,866 fatalities, and 61,733 active cases. -- BAP, GMA News