DOH logs 6,943 new COVID-19 cases; urges public to not be complacent

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported that 6,943 more people contracted the new coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

This number, it noted, brought the total confirmed cases nationwide to 2,727,286, and the tally of individuals currently sick due to the coronavirus to 68,832.

According to the DOH, the 6,943 new COVID-19 cases were 13.3 percent of the total 54,150 individuals tested for SAR-CoV-2, the new strain of coronavirus that causes respiratory illness COVID-19.

“Bagama’t bumababa ang mga kaso ng COVID-19 na naiiuulat nitong mga nakaraang araw, hindi dapat tayo maging kampante,” the DOH reminded in its latest bulletin.

(Although the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in recent days has been declining, we should not be complacent.)

“Bagkus, ipagpatuloy ang tamang pagsunod sa minimum public health standards at agad na magpabakuna,” it added.

(Instead, let us continue to adhere to minimum public health standards and get vaccinated immediately.)

Monday’s bulletin of the DOH also revealed that 19,867 COVID patients have recovered, increasing the number of recoveries in the country to 2,617,693. On the other hand, the DOH said 86 others died, raising the total death count to 40,761 as of October 18.

The DOH further said two laboratories were not able to submit their data on the coronavirus test conducted last October 16. These laboratories, it noted, contribute an average of 0.3 percent of samples tested and 0.2 percent of positive individuals.

The health agency likewise said that 25 duplicates were removed from its total case count — of which 16 were recoveries.

“Moreover, 30 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation,” the DOH added.

Meanwhile, 62 percent of ICU beds, 46 percent of isolation beds, 46 percent of ward beds, and 45 percent of ventilators are currently in use across the country, the DOH reported.

In Metro Manila, it said that occupied ICU beds are currently at 59 percent, isolation beds at 38 percent, ward beds at 43 percent while 45 percent of available ventilators were also being used in the region.

KGA