COVID-19 cases nearly doubled in December

New COVID-19 infections almost doubled in December with 5,284 cases across the country, rising 90% compared to the previous month.

The number of new cases was a sharp 2,504-increase from November's tally of 2,780, GMA Integrated News Research reported based on data from the Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 tracker.

Infections in December were also the highest in five months.

In terms of daily numbers, new cases in December averaged 170—an 83%-increase from 93 cases per day in November.

Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante, president of the Philippine College of Physicians, recently said that the increasing number of COVID-19 cases could be attributed to the relaxed implementation of health protocols amid back-to-back social gatherings during the holiday season.

While the number of COVID-19 cases was higher compared to previous years, Solante said, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates remained low.

Recoveries up, too

As new cases surged significantly last month, the total new recoveries jumped as well—up 69% to 7,869 from 4,670 in November.

Similar to new infections, the number of patients who recovered from COVID-19 was also the highest in five months.

Recoveries outpaced new cases in terms of daily averages, with 254 and 170 recorded, respectively, in December.

Total deaths in December registered at 47, or a 57%-increase from the 30 fatalities in November.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB after Christmas, Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI), also cited the possible impact of social gatherings over the holidays for the uptick in COVID-19 cases in private hospitals.

However, PHAPI said COVID-19 cases were expected to decrease over the coming weeks.

New DOH figures

On Jan. 2, 2024, the DOH reported 292 new cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the Philippines to 4,137,257 cases.

The Health Department also added 2,150 recoveries and 10 deaths to the figures reported on its Dec. 29 bulletin.

With this, total recoveries stands at 4,064,925, while all of the recorded deaths is at 66,823.

Active cases, or patients currently recovering from the coronavirus, also decreased to 5,509 from 5,757 reported on Dec. 29. — GMA Integrated News Research/ VDV, GMA Integrated News