Philippines logs only 849 new COVID-19 cases due to fewer tests

The Department of Health on Tuesday reported only 849 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the country's total tally to 2,819,341, as six laboratories failed to submit their data.

The number of new cases is the lowest since December 28, 2020.

The DOH said the low number of cases was "largely due to the weekly dip of testing output due to weekend encoding of positive cases to the COVID-19 Document Repository System."

"Last Sunday showed the lowest testing output this week," the DOH added.

The new cases brought the country's active case count to 25,464, of which 59.1% are mild, 5.9% are asymptomatic, 11.5% are severe, and 4.9% are in critical condition.

Ngayong 4 PM, Nobyembre 16, 2021, ang Department of Health ay nakapagtala ng 849 na karagdagang kaso ng COVID-19. Samantala ay mayroon namang naitalang 2,393 na gumaling at 99 na pumanaw.

Sa kabuuang bilang ng mga naitalang kaso sa bansa, 0.9% (25,464) ang aktibong kaso, pic.twitter.com/O5ZPzGkj68

— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) November 16, 2021

Total recoveries increased to 2,748,069 after 2,393 more patients defeated the viral disease.

The death toll climbed to 45,808 with 99 new fatalities.

The country's positivity rate was at 3.2%, while the total conducted COVID-19 tests were at 28,128.

The DOH also noted that 19 duplicates were removed from the total case count, while 83 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

Latest data from the DOH also showed that 34% of the country’s intensive care unit beds are utilized, while 22% of the mechanical ventilators are also in use.

In Metro Manila, 33% of the ICU beds are utilized, while 22% of the ventilators are in use.—LDF, GMA News