DOH: Expect higher number of new virus cases as labs submit case data

MANILA, Philippines — The public should expect a higher number of reported coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the coming days as laboratories complete their submission of case data, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there are confirmed COVID-19 cases that have not yet been officially included in the nationwide case count as laboratories have yet to provide complete information on the cases.

Starting September 1, the DOH has required laboratories to include the complete addresses and contact numbers of COVID-19 patients in the data they upload to the department’s case database to aid local government units in their contact tracing efforts.

If this information is not provided, the confirmed cases will not be included yet in the country’s total case count.

Vergeire said the laboratories will be completing their submission of data this week and the cases will be tagged as “late cases.”

“In these coming days, we will be reporting a higher number of cases because of the complete submissions of our laboratories,” she told reporters in an online media forum.

“We expect that this is a one-time occurrence and laboratories have changed their processes to ensure that information is included in the reports provided to the DOH and to their local government units,” she said.

As of September 8, the nationwide COVID-19 count reached 241,987, of which 52,893 are considered “active cases.”

Total recoveries nationwide are at 185,178 while the death toll has hit 3,916.

/MUF