DOH logs 973 new COVID-19 cases; active tally at 17,900

The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday recorded 973 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the total nationwide caseload to 4,056,239.

This was the second time in five days that new cases were below 1,000, with 1,196 new infections tallied on Saturday.

The department recorded fewer than 1,000 new cases on December 13, with 791.

Based on the DOH’s latest data, the country’s active cases decreased to 17,900 from 18,262 on Saturday. The last time the active cases went below 18,000 was Dec. 8 with 17,994.

The number of recoveries climbed to 3,973,910 while the death toll rose by 30 to 65,064.

According to the DOH, the regions with the most cases in the last two weeks were the National Capital Region with 5,841 followed by Calabarzon with 2,452 and Central Luzon with 1,206.

The Health Department said at least 10,039 individuals were tested, while 315 testing labs submitted data on December 17.

DOH also said that the bed occupancy in the country was 21.9%, with 6,129 beds occupied, while 21,844 were vacant. — Mel Matthew Doctor/BM, GMA Integrated News