DOH: Drop in COVID cases due to less samples for testing in labs

The recent dip in the number of COVID-19 cases was due to the low number of samples submitted to laboratories, the Department of Health said Saturday.

“Hindi sa pag-submit ng laboratoryo ang problema natin ngayon, or issue sa pagtala ng mas mababang kaso for the past weeks. It’s about the lesser number of samples" (that laboratories received for testing), Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the Laging Handa briefing.

Vergeire also pointed out that the DOH should also analyze if the decrease in the samples submitted to the laboratories is due to the low number of suspected cases.

“Kapag tiningnan natin in the whole, kailangan nating ma-analyze maigi if this pagbaba ng samples sa pag-submit is because mababa na po ang nakikitang dapat i-test or hindi lang talaga natetest ang iba” (If we look at the whole picture, we need to analyze if the decrease in the samples submitted is due to the low number of persons that should be tested), she said.

On Thursday, the Philippines reported 6,637 new COVID-19 cases, raising the country's total tally to 1,080,172, as one laboratory failed to submit data on time.

According to the DOH, the low recorded number of infections on Thursday was due to the less samples laboratories received on Tuesday.

Earlier, OCTA Research said the average number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide has declined by 11% in the past seven days, but this shouldn't be seen yet as the effect of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). —LBG, GMA News