DOH logs 256 new COVID-19 infections; active tally at 3,211

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday registered 256 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the nationwide caseload to 3,694,121.

According to the DOH’s latest figures, the country’s active case tally also increased from 3,130 on Tuesday to 3,211 on Wednesday.

Among the top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital Region (NCR) with 1,628, followed by Calabarzon with 478, Central Luzon with 265, Western Visayas with 241, and Central Visayas with 131.

The DOH reported a total of 3,630,449 patients recovered from the viral disease.

The Philippines’ death tally remained at 60,461 with no new deaths recorded.

The Health department said at least 5,201 beds were occupied, while 24,979 were vacant as the bed occupancy in the country slightly increased to 17.2% from the earlier 17%.

The DOH also said a total of 18,807 individuals were tested, while 323 testing labs submitted data as of June 14. 

Lower than forecast

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Wednesday's number of new cases was lower than the group's forecast 450 to 500.

“Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually lower," David told GMA News Online.

“The spike in positivity rate in NCR yesterday (Tuesday) 4% went back down to about 3.5%. So maybe it was just a random spike in positivity rate,” he added.

The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested.

Still, David said the group expected an increase in cases within the next few weeks.

He added that the “infectious subvariant and waning immunity” could be a possible cause for the further spike in COVID-19 cases.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported that the latest sequencing run yielded six new cases of the BA.5 and 10 new cases of the BA.2.12.1.

Vergeire also warned of a possible increase in severe and critical COVID-19 cases by August, citing the waning immunity of the public.

The Health undersecretary said the country’s severe and critical cases are currently stable and hospitals are not overwhelmed.

She added that there was waning immunity due to the slow uptake of booster shots. — Richa Noriega/BM/NB, GMA News