Philippines logs 3,483 new COVID-19 cases, total soars to 224,264

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally of the Philippines leapt to 224,264 on Tuesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 3,483 new infections, marking the seventh straight day in which more than 3,000 new cases were reported.

Metro Manila still logged the highest number of new infections at 1,824, followed by Laguna with 223, Cavite with 184, Rizal with 161, and Batangas with 126.

Ninety-two percent or 3,483 of the newly reported cases contracted COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Total recoveries also rose to 158,012 after 464 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 3,597 with 39 new fatalities.

The remaining 62,655 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 91.3 percent of which are mild, 6.3 percent are asymptomatic, 1 percent are severe, and 1.4 percent are in critical condition.

As of August 31, the Philippines had 113 licensed laboratories that had tested over 2.4 million individuals while 50 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit beds nationwide were occupied and 27 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed Iligan City under modified enhanced community quarantine. Metro Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Tacloban, and Bacolod will be under general community quarantine until the end of the month. 

Experts earlier said that infections may spike to as high as 375,000 by September 30. —LDF, GMA News