Philippines has highest number of new COVID-19 cases in Western Pacific Region —WHO data

The Philippines has reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours in the Western Pacific Region, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Based on WHO data, the Philippines topped the list with 3,351 new cases, followed by Malaysia with 1,529 and Japan with 679.

On Monday, an additional 3,356 new infections brought the nationwide tally to 597,763 with 545,912 recoveries and 12,521 fatalities, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The data also showed the Philippines has reported the highest number of total cases among Western Pacific countries with 597,763 cases. This was followed by Japan with 440,671 and Malaysia with 314,989.

The republic of the Marshall Islands and Samoa have the least COVID-19 cases with four, each, followed by Lao with 47 cases.

Meanwhile, the Philippines also has the highest death toll due to COVID-19 with 12,521 fatalities, followed by Japan with 8,299, and China with 4,636.

Officials see the new more transmissible coronavirus variants, the easing of lockdown restrictions, non-compliance to health protocols, and the gradual reopening of the economy as possible reasons for the spike. 

Due to the rising cases, the government task force handling the COVID-19 response will review this week its decisions to loosen restrictions.

OCTA Research

An expert from the OCTA Research group said earlier in the day that the daily new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) may reach 5,000 by March 31 as the projected reproduction number may have already increased.

OCTA Research’s Dr. Guido David said the estimated reproduction number or Rt may have already increased to 1.8.

According to David, they are receiving reports that most of these cases were transmitted within families or households.

On Sunday, the OCTA Research group said the reproduction rate for the period of Feb. 28 to March 6 went up to 1.66 in Metro Manila.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA News