COVID-19 casualties in PH rise to 30,623 with death of 161 more

FILE PHOTO: This undated transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, also known as novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S. NIAID-RML/Handout via REUTERS.

MANILA, Philippines — New coronavirus disease COVID-19 has now killed 30,623 people in the country, according to the Department of Health, reporting the death of 161 more on Wednesday.

Based on government data, the death toll covers 1.72 percent of the confirmed 1,776,495 coronavirus cases recorded since last year.

The DOH also reported that 105,151 individuals are currently sick of COVID-19 after 11,085 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 which causes the severe respiratory illness. It added that 96 percent of the active cases are mild, 1 percent are asymptomatic, and 0.91 percent are moderate while 1.3 percent are severe and 0.7 percent are critical.

The DOH has so far confirmed 2,737 COVID-19 deaths in August or an average of 152 fatalities being added to the tally per day.

It earlier warned that the rate of deaths may increase after it noted a plateau in the number of fatalities in the previous weeks. It likewise said that the record-high daily COVID-19 cases in the past week are expected to continue in the coming weeks despite the hard lockdown in Metro Manila.