Teodoro Herbosa (DOH)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported that 251 new COVID-19 cases were logged in hospitals across the country from Feb. 27 to March 4, translating to an average of 36 cases logged per day.
“This is 27 percent lower compared to the average daily cases recorded last February 20 to 26,” the health agency said.
In comparison, the DOH logged an average of 34,903 new COVID-19 cases per day during the “peak” of the pandemic in January 2022.
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7 COVID-19 related deaths
However, the DOH also reported that among the new COVID-19 cases, seven people died—five of them within two weeks from Feb. 20 to March 4.
Among the reported new COVID-19 cases, three were also labeled as severe and critical.
Out of the 1,185 COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds available, only 115 or 10 percent are presently occupied, while 1,119 or 11 percent of the 10,097 COVID-19 non-ICU beds are in use per the DOH’s latest data.
‘Low severity and fatality’
The health department said that its latest data shows “low severity and fatality” and is credited to the protection given by the high vaccination coverage among Filipinos.
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“Moving forward, we have learned our lessons and we now know better,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa was quoted as saying in the DOH’s statement.
The health department also said it “continues to be vigilant for any new infectious disease threats and many other health conditions affecting Filipinos.
It has been almost a year since the Philippine government lifted the public health emergency status on COVID-19 in July 2023 upon the recommendation of the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.