6,040 new Philippine COVID-19 cases reported; total now at 1.5 million

The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines rose to 1,502,359 on Saturday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,040 new infections as three laboratories failed to submit data on time.

According to the DOH, this brought the country’s active cases to 47,257.

Of this, 91.8% are mild, 2.0% are asymptomatic, 2.7% are severe, and 1.6% are in critical condition.

The DOH also announced that total recoveries climbed to 1,428,504 after 7,213 more patients recovered from the illness.

Meanwhile, 122 new fatalities brought the death toll to 26,598.

Nine duplicate cases were also removed from the total case count.

“Moreover, 74 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” the DOH said.

Data from the DOH showed that 56% of intensive care unit beds nationwide are in use while 36% of mechanical ventilators are occupied.

In the National Capital Region, 42% of ICU beds are being utilized while 34% of mechanical ventilators are in use.

The Philippines earlier recorded its second death due to the more infectious Delta variant that was first detected in India.

On Friday, the country reported its first 11 local cases of the variant. Of these cases, two were from Manila, five from Cagayan de Oro, one from Misamis Oriental, two from Antique, and one from Pampanga.  — DVM, GMA News