Philippines registers 5,828 COVID-19 cases as active tally rises to 50,562

The Philippines on Thursday registered 5,828 more coronavirus disease cases, increasing the nation's total tally to 1,530,266.

According to the Department of Health's case bulletin, active cases soared to 50,562 from 47,996 on July 21. This as five laboratories failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS).

Of the current active cases, 92.7% are mild, 1.6% are asymptomatic, 1.5% are critical, 2.5% are severe, 1.74% are moderate.

The country's total recoveries increased to 1,452,813 with 3,257 new ones.

Seventeen more individuals were killed by the respiratory illness, bringing the fatality tally to 26,891.

Meanwhile, the country's utilization of ICU beds soared to 55%; use of  isolation beds grew to 47%; utilization of ward beds went up to 43% and use of mechanical ventilators increased to 36%.

In Metro Manila, occupancy rate of medical equipment are as follows: ICU beds (44%); isolation beds (40%); ward beds (34%); and mechanical ventilators (33%).

DOH, however, made more modifications in the country's total tally after removing 11 duplicated cases, including eight recoveries.

"Moreover, 15 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation," the health department also said.

Independent group OCTA Research said there are already initial stages of a surge in Metro Manila with the threat of the Delta variant, which has increased to 47, including 12 new local cases. 

For the health department, however, there is "premise that there may be ongoing local transmission already.”

It also said the reproduction number in the National Capital Region rose to 1.15, indicating a sustained transmission of the respiratory illness amid the Delta variant threat. 

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) also said hospitals recently found a fresh uptick in COVID-19 cases as the country prepares for a possible chain of Delta variant cases. 

The World Health Organization earlier reported that the highly contagious Delta, variant, which originated in India, will become the dominant strain of the virus over the coming months.

To date, cases of the variant have been recorded in 124 territories worldwide.—LDF, GMA News