7,661 new COVID-19 cases push active tally to 160K

The Philippines reported on Wednesday 7,661 additional COVID-19 infections, increasing the total caseload to 3,577,298.

Of the fresh infections, the Department of Health said 5,806 occurred from January 20 to February 2, 2022. The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were Western Visayas with 896 or 15%, Metro Manila with 873 or 15% and Calabarzon with 694 or 12%.

The fresh infections also raised the active tally to 160,297 which include 5,575 asymptomatic cases, 149,829  mild cases, 3,056 moderate cases, 1,521 severe cases and 316 critical cases.

Further, the nationwide positivity rate was at 24.8%, with 40,453 total conducted tests.

The total recovery tally reached 3,362,904, with 23,392 new ones.

Forty-three more COVID-19 patients died, bringing the death toll to 54,097.

Of the 43 fatalities, 26 occurred in January 2022 (60%), three in December 2021 (7%), one in November 2021 (2%), five in September 2021 (12%), four in August 2021 (9%), three in July 2021 (7%), and one in June 2021 (2%) due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya.

Meanwhile, the occupancy rate in the country's intensive care unit beds is at 46% while 25% of mechanical ventilators are in use.

ICU beds in Metro Manila are 40% utilized while ventilators are 24% in use.

The DOH also deleted 28 duplicates, including 18 recoveries, from the case tally. In addition, 28 recoveries were reclassified as deaths.

Only two labs did not report their data to COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). These labs,  in the last 14 days, contribute, on average 0.9% of samples tested and 1.5% of positive individuals.—LDF, GMA News