Philippines records 195 new COVID-19 cases, lowest daily tally in 4 months

The Philippines recorded 195 additional cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the lowest daily tally in nearly four months since December 21 last year, when 168 infections were recorded, data released by the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

The latest data brought the country’s active cases to 21,038, the lowest in three months since January 1. This drove the total caseload to 3.683 million, which includes 3.602 recoveries, and 59,969 deaths.

The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded 1,222 cases in the past two weeks, followed by Calabarzon with 508 cases, Central Luzon with 368 cases, Western Visayas with 231 cases, and Central Visayas with 155 cases.

They were followed by Cavite with 208 cases, Manila City with 205 cases, Quezon City with 159 cases, Pasay City with 143 cases, and Caloocan City with 135 cases.

The country’s bed occupancy rate stands at 15.3%, with 5,972 beds occupied and another 27,490 vacant.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week granted the emergency use authorization (EUA) for a second booster shot for senior citizens, the immunocompromised, and frontline health workers.

The DOH said the second booster dose will be given at least four months after the first booster dose, as the FDA warned of waning immunity in the specific populations.

The department earlier said it requested the FDA to amend the EUA to allow the fourth dose for minors aged 12 to 17.

DOH data show that the Philippines has administered 142.236 million doses as of March 30, 2022. This includes 64.332 million who have received their first dose, 65.885 million who have received their complete dose, and 12.018 million who received their booster dose. — BM, GMA News