PH logs highest COVID cases in four months with 12,021 new infections

FILE PHOTO: A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020. NEXU Science Communication/via REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported 12,021 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest so far in four months, raising the number of active cases to 81,399.

According to DOH, there are now 1,688,040 total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. From this number, 1577,267 are recoveries—including the 9,591 newly-recovered patients—and 29,374 deaths—including the 154 additional fatalities.

The last time the DOH recorded new cases that are over the 12,000th mark was on April 10, with 12,674 new cases. It was in April when the country saw a record-high spike in COVID-19 infections.

The DOH said 21.9 percent of 38,478 people who were tested were found positive on Monday for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

All laboratories were operational on Monday but three labs were not able to submit their data on time, according to the department. The three non-reporting labs contribute two percent of samples tested and 1.2 percent of positive individuals on average in the last 14 days.

Meanwhile, 137 duplicates, including 129 recoveries, were removed from the total case count. The DOH also noted that three cases initially counted as recoveries have been found to be active cases and 112 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

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JPV