Philippine COVID-19 tally tops 189,000 with 16,459 new recoveries

The Philippines’ tally of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases leapt to 189,601 on Sunday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 2,378 new infections.

This marks the first time in 11 days that the number of new cases fell below 3,000.

Metro Manila still logged the highest number of new infections at 1,022, followed by Cavite with 132, Laguna with 128, Rizal with 115, and Cebu with 96.

Eighty percent or 2,378 of the newest cases contracted COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Meanwhile, total recoveries rose to 131,367 after 16,459 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease.

The DOH earlier said it would announce time-based recoveries every Sunday as part of its “Oplan Recovery” initiative, where COVID-19 cases are re-tagged as recoveries after completing 14 to 21 days of isolation without developing symptoms.

The death toll also climbed to 2,998 with 32 new fatalities, 20 of whom died in August, eight in July, three in June, and one in May.

The remaining 55,236 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 91.5 percent of which are mild, 6.1 percent are asymptomatic, 1 percent are severe, and 1.4 percent are in critical condition.

The DOH also said 68 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied while 45 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use as of August 22.

The Philippines still has the highest number of COVID-19 infections and active cases in Southeast Asia. — DVM, GMA News