Fewer new cases reported as DOH tweaks data process

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported fewer additional COVID-19 cases, attributing the smaller figure to a temporary change in the data process.

The DOH reported 294 additional COVID-19 cases, a significant reduction from the over 600-1,000 range in recent days.

It brought the national caseload to 38,805 infections.

Of the additional cases, the DOH said 52 were “fresh,” or patients who tested positive for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in the last three days, and 242 were “late,” or patients who tested positive four days ago or earlier.

‘Extraction time’

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said some changes were made to the “extraction time,” or the time when the Epidemiology Bureau extracts the testing data from the DOH system.

“From 24 hours, the data that we now have is only worth 19 hours because we changed our process to give the Epidemiology Bureau more time to analyze the data,” Vergeire said in a televised news briefing.

She said the change was temporary and that the DOH hoped the data it would release in the coming days would be more substantial and timely.

Vergeire said Thursday’s report was based on the daily accomplishment reports submitted by only 58, or 81 percent, of the 72 testing laboratories.

Of the fresh cases, the DOH said 10 were from Metro Manila, 25 spread across the country, and 17 were repatriates.

Of the late cases, it said 50 were from the metropolis, 164 from various parts of the country, and 28 were repatriates.

The DOH also reported that 235 more patients had recovered, pushing the number of COVID-19 survivors to 10,673.

But four more patients died, bringing the death toll to 1,274.