PH records 3,249 new COVID cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported 3,249 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, bringing to 205,581 the total number of cases in the country.

Of the new cases submitted by 98 of the 110 accredited laboratories, 1,584 came from Metro Manila. Cavite trailed with 147, while Laguna reported 143, Negros Occidental, 140, and Batangas, 123.

As of Thursday, the country had 68,357 active cases, of which 91.3 percent were mild, 6.6 percent asymptomatic, 0.8 percent severe, and 1.2 percent critical.

Majority of the new cases, or 2,607, fell ill between Aug. 14 and Aug. 27.

It also reported that 566 more patients have recovered from the respiratory illness, bringing the total number of recoveries to 133,990.

The death toll climbed to 3,234 as 97 patients succumbed to the severe respiratory disease.

Of the newly reported fatalities, 40 died this month, 51 in July, five in June, and one in April. National Capital Region accounted for most of the new fatalities with 63, followed by Region 4A with 15, Region 9 with seven, Region 7 with five, Region 3 with three, and Regions 6 and 11 with one each, and repatriates, two.

Clinical trials

The DOH also reported that as of Aug. 26, about 50 percent of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients nationwide were occupied, while 29 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.

The Philippines also has 83 certified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) facilities and 27 GeneXpert laboratories that had tested a total of 2,271,689 individuals, the DOH added.

The clinical trials for the candidate vaccines for COVID-19 have yet to start in the Philippines as it is still in negotiations with other countries, according to the DOH.

“We have not yet approved a clinical trial for any vaccine for COVID-19,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online briefing on Wednesday.

“What our vaccine experts are doing right now are negotiations with different manufacturers and other governments who have committed to help the Philippines,” she added.

According to Vergeire, the country’s experts panel is still assessing the results of the initial clinical trial phase of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia.

“Last week, we have already requested the Phase I and Phase II details coming from Gamaleya Institute—the Russian vaccine—in order for the vaccine experts panel to review it,” she said.

Vergeire assured the public that it will be informed about the development of the negotiations.

“We will provide information when we have a more advanced negotiation, or if we will already start a trial, or if the conduct of a trial has already been approved by Food and Drug Administration,” she added.