DOH reports 8,147 new COVID-19 cases; recoveries exceed 1.5 million

The Philippines’ tally of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases rose to 1,588,965 on Saturday with 8,147 new infections as one laboratory failed to submit data on time.

This marks the second consecutive day where more than 8,000 cases were recorded.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the country’s active cases slightly decreased to 60,887.

Of this, 93.8% are mild, 1.3% are asymptomatic, 2.1% are severe, and 1.3% are in critical condition.

The DOH also announced that total recoveries climbed to 1,500,189 after 9,117 more patients recovered from the illness, the highest recorded since June 19.

Meanwhile, 167 new fatalities brought the death toll to 27,889.

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

“Moreover, 2 cases previously tagged as recoveries have been validated to be active cases, and 102 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” the DOH said.

Data from the DOH showed that 59% of the intensive care unit beds nationwide are in use, while 39% of the mechanical ventilators are occupied.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), 52% of the ICU beds are being used by patients, while 39% of the mechanical ventilators are in use.

The DOH earlier said that even with heightened restrictions and the reimposition of hard lockdown, the number of active COVID-19 cases in NCR might increase to over 30,000.

NCR will be placed under the strictest enhanced community quarantine classification from August 6 to 20 amid the threat of the more infectious Delta variant. -MDM, GMA News