DOH: Tally of COVID-19 patients swells as more encoders validate cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday attributed the upsurge in the total count of new COVID-19 infections in the past few days to its increased capacity to validate more cases.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency’s case validation capability has improved due to the hiring of more encoders.

She added that COVID-19 cases may still increase in the following days as DOH continues its case validation efforts.

“Inaasahan po natin na sa mga darating na mga araw ay maaari pa ring tumaas ang ating mga kaso dahil patuloy na po tayong nakakapagvalidate ng ating mga kaso,” Vergeire said in a televised press briefing.

“Kumpara sa mga nakaraang araw, ang trend ng mga bagong kaso ay tumataas ngunit dahil po ito sa patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kasong nava-validate na sa ngayon dahil nakapaghire na tayo ng additional encoders,” she added.

On Thursday afternoon, DOH reported 539 new cases—the new highest single-day increase since March 31’s 538.

Prior to this, DOH has also recorded a total of 1,014 confirmed cases from Monday to Wednesday.

Overall, there are now 15,588 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide, including 3,598 recoveries and 921 deaths.

Earlier, Vergeire also claimed that the sudden rise in new coronavirus cases is due to the inclusion of the positive test results of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The highest single-day tally was recorded as the government leans towards the shift of Metro Manila’s lockdown from modified enhanced community quarantine to a more relaxed general community quarantine.

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