PH’s active Covid-19 cases surpass 30,000 again as 96 more die

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s active Covid-19 cases once again breached the 30,000-mark, even as the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday that 96 more patients died of the respiratory ailment.

According to DOH, 1,744 fresh infections increased nationwide case count to 555,163, including the 31,115 active cases.

The health agency likewise noted that the 96 fatalities boosted the country’s death toll to 11,673 although 412 new recoveries brought the total number of patients who have survived the Covid-19 to 512,375.

DOH explained that total active cases represent 5.6 percent of the overall tally, while 92.3 percent were recovered patients, and 2.10 percent were those who succumbed to the disease.

DOH likewise said that 85.6 percent of the active cases were patients with mild symptoms while 8.6 percent were those who were asymptomatic. It added that 2.5 percent of the active cases were patients in critical condition, 2.5 percent were in severe condition, and 0.78 percent were those under moderate condition.

Meanwhile, DOH said five duplicates have been removed from the total Covid-19 cases while 68 previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as death cases upon validation.

The reported additional figures Thursday do not cover data from six laboratories that were not able to submit their results in time, according to DOH.

While the national growth rate of Covid-19 cases is decreasing, DOH previously said it has observed increasing Covid-19 cases in Central Visayas, Caraga, and eight cities in Metro Manila, particularly in Valenzuela, Pasay, Malabon, Pasig, Makati, Navotas, Las Piñas, and Manila.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. has confirmed that local chief executives in the National Capital Region voted to recommend the shift to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by March. MGCQ is the most lenient quarantine status in the country.

But earlier this month, Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research which monitors Covid-19 trends in the country, warned that the government should not risk a surge in coronavirus cases in Metro Manila, saying this will only delay the much-awaited vaccination plan. He said the vaccine rollout should first start before relaxing quarantine restrictions in the region.

On Tuesday, Malacañang said it backs the proposal to place the entire country under MGCQ emphasizing the need to address hunger and poverty.

More than 109 million Covid-19 cases have been recorded globally, according to the dashboard of Johns Hopkins University. Of this number, 2.4 million were deaths and 61 million were recoveries, leaving 45 million in active cases.

KGA