DOH logs 2,018 new COVID-19 cases, highest daily tally in 5 months

The Department of Health logged 2,018 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the highest daily tally in nearly five months, when 2,232 cases were recorded on February 18.

The new cases bring the country's total number of coronavirus cases to 3,718,467. Recoveries increased by 1,147 to 3,644,009, while the death toll rose by one to 60,640.

Active cases now number 13,818, down by three cases from Saturday's tally.

In the last two weeks, the National Capital Region reported 8,016 cases, the most by any region, followed by Calabarzon with 3,536 cases, Western Visayas with 1,535 cases, Central Luzon with 1,444 cases, and Central Visayas with 730 cases.

The bed occupancy rate rose slightly to 21.0%, with 6,072 beds occupied and 22,831 beds vacant in 1,926 facilities.

Despite the increase in cases, OCTA Research's Dr. Guido David said in a report on "24 Oras Weekend" that fewer cases are being reported because the number of tests being conducted has declined.

“Our seven-day average in Metro Manila is about 654 cases per day, so that means if we’re testing the same as in January, we would have about 1,300 cases [in NCR] per day,” he said.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. tested positive for COVID-19 last week, though aides said Sunday that his condition has "greatly improved, with only mild symptoms with no fever, no loss of taste and smell sensation." — BM, GMA News