PH logs 6,297 new cases in first week of March

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) on Monday released its first weekly COVID-19 case bulletin registering 6,297 total new cases from March 1 to March 7.

According to DOH, this translates to an average of 899 new cases per day.

Total additional deaths registered in the same period, meanwhile, number 615, with only 39 occurring this month, 195 in February and 104 in January. The rest were backlogs due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya, said the DOH.

Healthcare utilization rate meanwhile is at 18.4 percent in non-ICU beds, and 25.7 percent in ICU beds nationwide.

A total of 1,055 individuals, on the other hand, suffered or continue to suffer severe and critical infections.

Fully-vaccinated individuals are now at 63,690,701 (70.76 percent of target population) with 598,206 additional individuals from Feb. 28 to March 6.

Individuals with booster shots number 10,554,093 with 416,218 additional individuals in the same period.

The health agency likewise said that 26 total duplicates were removed from the total case count, all of which were recoveries.

Moreover, the DOH said that 551 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

The DOH’s transition to weekly release of COVID-19 data was announced on March 1.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that this is meant to boost the confidence of the public under the new normal.