PH’s COVID-19 death toll rises to 32,728 as 236 more patients die

(FILE)  Workers are finding themselves busier than ever at New Life Crematorium in Biñan City in Laguna, where families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 have to wait for at least two days to secure a slot. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s COVID-19 death toll soared to 32,728 on Thursday following the deaths of 236 more patients, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

By reporting date, the DOH has so far added 4,544 fatalities in its death count for COVID-19 in August, based on the agency’s previous case bulletins.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Alethea De Guzman, OIC Director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, said deaths triggered by COVID-19 are increasing in August, but the proportion of fatalities among the total cases is not higher than in 2020 even with more cases being recorded this year.

De Guzman said the Philippines reached record-high 135 average deaths per day in April when the country saw a surge in coronavirus infections. Deaths then went down to 123 per day in May, 105 in June, and 94 in July, but picked up again at 109 from August 1 to 25.

The country now has 131,921 active cases of COVID-19, of which 1.2 percent are severe and 0.6 percent are critical that are at higher risk for death.

Based on the DOH case bulletin, 75 percent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 63 percent of isolation beds, 69 percent of ward beds, and 54 percent of ventilators are currently being utilized.