Philippines logs 1,171 new COVID-19 cases from March 13–19, 2023

The Philippines recorded 1,171 new coronavirus cases from March 13 to March 19, 2023, the latest Department of Health (DOH) bulletin indicated.

According to the DOH, this is 19% higher compared to the 1,101 new cases reported from the 983 COVID-19 infections reported from March 6 to 12, 2023. The daily case average likewise increased to 167 from the 140 monitored a week ago.

Latest data from the DOH also showed a total of 63 additional verified COVID-19-related deaths were belatedly recorded by the agency. These deaths were registered from January 2021  to March 2022. No new deaths were logged in the recent week.

“Of the 63 deaths, 2 occurred in March 2022, 6 in February 2022, 6 in January 2022, 4 in November 2021, 11 in October 2021, 8 in September 2021, 9 in August 2021, 4 in July 2021, 3 in June 2021, 3 in May 2021, 4 in April 2021, 2 in March 2021, and 1 in January 2021,” the agency said.

73 cases on Monday

Meanwhile, the DOH on Monday reported 73 new coronavirus cases, lowering the active infections to 9,223 from Sunday’s 9,290.

The total nationwide caseload is now at 4,079,056, according to the DOH.

The country’s total recoveries went up by 123 to 4,003,555, while the death toll stood at 66,278.

Metro Manila remained the region with the highest number of new cases in the last 14 days with 549. Davao Region followed with 293; CALABARZON with 222; Soccksargen with 175 and Northern Mindanao with 165.

COVID-19 bed occupancy in the country is still at low risk with 15.6%.

Hospitals, vaccination updates

Meanwhile, more than 78 million Filipinos, or 100.44% of the government’s target population, are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to DOH.

The number of boosted individuals also increased to 23 million, it added.

At least 7.1 million senior citizens or 82.16% of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series.

Further, the DOH reported that the number of severe and critical cases admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19 declined to 386 or 13.3%% of the total COVID-19 admissions.

Of the recent cases, six were tagged as new severe or critical cases.

A total of 272 out of the 2,040 intensive care unit (ICU) beds nationwide were occupied while 17% or 2,853 of the total 16,735 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were also in use. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News