COVID-19 kills another 214 in PH; toll reaches 35,742

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 — The Department of Health (DOH) reported Wednesday the passing of 214 more coronavirus patients and that the country’s COVID-19 death toll is now at 35,742.

According to DOH, the death tally accounts for 1.57 percent of the total 2.28 million confirmed COVID-19 cases across the country since the pandemic started in 2020.

The latest fatality count, however, increased the number of deaths so far recorded this month to 2,294.

COVID-19 deaths started increasing in August as the country saw a surge in cases due to the community spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.

The DOH said it reported 114 deaths per day in August, higher than the 97 average deaths in July and 106 in June.

The country has 170,446 active cases or patients still battling COVID-19 as of Wednesday. But of the confirmed 2.28 million coronavirus cases, 2.07 million have already recovered.

Of the currently active cases, the DOH said 1.4 percent are severe and 0.7 percent are critical while the majority or 85.4 percent are mild, 9.8 percent are asymptomatic, and 2.77 percent are moderate.

KGA