DOH reports additional 2,241 COVID-19 cases; total now at 67,456

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported additional 2,241 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the nationwide count to 67,456 as of Sunday.

According to DOH’s 4 p.m. case bulletin, the additional reported cases consisting of 1,643 fresh cases and 598 late cases, were based on the total tests conducted by 74 out of the 84 current operational laboratories. Fresh cases are those reported within the last three days while late cases are part of the DOH’s validation backlog.

The DOH also reported additional 398 recoveries, bringing the number of patients who have recovered from the disease to 22,465.

Meanwhile, 58 additional deaths were registered, raising the death toll in the country due to the illness to 1,831.

Of the additional deaths recorded, 25 were from July and 33 were from June.

Fifty-four of this number were from Central Visayas, while Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Davao Region logged one death each.

The age range for these new deaths were 35 to 94 years old, with the median age at 63 years old, according to DOH.

A total of 36 fatalities or 62 percent of the newly-announced deaths were those aged 60 years old and above.

Currently, the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the country is at 43,160.

The DOH added that 89 duplicates were removed from the total case count.

Metro Manila registered the highest number of newly-announced cases at 1,625, followed by Laguna at 115, Cavite at 76, Rizal at 75, and Cebu at 55.

According to DOH, 90.1 percent of the current active cases are considered mild cases, while 9.1 percent are asymptomatic, and 0.4 percent each are severe and critical cases.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,058,764 tests for COVID-19 were conducted as of 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18, with a total of 67 licensed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests and 22 licensed GeneXpert laboratories across the country.

JE