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 — The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported an additional 2,892 cases of COVID-19 in the country. However, it also said that active infections decreased to 35,101 as of August 17.
According to the COVID-19 tracker on the DOH’s website, since the pandemic hit the Philippines in 2020, confirmed cases totaled 3,840,943, while recovered patients and fatalities totaled 3,744,699 and 61,173, respectively.
The new infections likewise indicated a lower than average daily rise as August 8-14 posted 4,001 new COVID-19 cases – although 2,892 is still slightly higher than the 2,633 new infections reported in the DOH’s COVID-19 tracker on Tuesday, August 16.
DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said that cases nationwide have been “plateauing,” but this may only be due to the lower number of tests conducted by laboratories across the country.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila is still the region with the highest number of new infections in the last two weeks with 15,141 cases, followed by Calabarzon at 9,450, and Central Luzon at 5,116, based on the latest data from the DOH’s COVID-19 tracker.
On the other hand, Quezon City remained at the top of the list of areas with the most reported fresh cases in the last two weeks at 3,341. Cavite followed with 3,163 new cases, and Laguna, 2,777.
The DOH’s COVID-19 tracker also showed on Wednesday that 24,794 individuals were tested for SARS-CoV-2 on Tuesday, August 16. Results of this test will be reflected on the government’s data on Thursday, August 18.
SARS-CoV-2 is the latest coronavirus strain that causes severe respiratory ailment COVID-19. Since 2020, the coronavirus has mutated many times into different variants such as Delta and Omicron, which also has a few sub-variants.
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