FILE PHOTO: Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), also known as novel coronavirus, isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH/Handout via REUTERS.
MANILA, Philippines — Another 154 COVID-19 patients have died, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday as it notes a lower case fatality rate (CFR) for the disease despite a higher number of coronavirus cases.
According to the latest case bulletin, a total of 37,228 COVID-19 patients have died since the pandemic started last year. This accounts for 1.54 percent of the total 2.4 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.
In a statement, the DOH said the percentage of deaths among COVID-19 cases in the Philippines decreased in 2021 despite a three-fold increase in cases as the country ramps up vaccination.
According to the health agency, the CFR in the country was at 1.47 percent so far in 2021 compared to 2.47 percent in 2020.
The country now has 162,580 active cases of COVID-19, of which 1.5 percent are severe and 0.7 percent are critical that are at higher risk for death.