The Department of Health logged 3,139 new cases on Friday, bringing the national tally to 351,750.
Of the new infections, 2,023 got sick between Oct. 3 and Oct. 16, while 1,041 fell ill in September. Metro Manila topped the list with 1,003 cases, followed by Cavite (206), Rizal (175), Laguna (138) and Iloilo (126).
There are now a total 294,865 patients who have recovered from COVID-19, with the recovery of 786 more patients. The death toll, however, climbed to 6,531 as 34 patients succumbed to the severe respiratory disease.
On Friday, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) of the Philippines slammed the Department of Education (DepEd) for the lack of health protection for education workers, as the number of COVID-19 infections among DepEd personnel rose by 316 percent in just seven weeks.ACT said 2,193 COVID-19 positive cases have been recorded among DepEd employees, from only 526 infected personnel on Aug. 23.
—WITH REPORTS FROM JOVIC YEE AND MARIEJO S. RAMOS