DOH reports 3,572 new COVID-19 cases from March 14-20

MANILA, Philippines — The government has recorded 3,572 new COVID-19 infections last week, March 14-20, slightly lower than the week prior.

According to the Department of Health on Monday, the period’s case count means there was an average of 510 new infections per day – 13 percent lower than the average cases logged from March 7-13 which was at 590.

Total additional deaths verified in the same period, meanwhile, number to 655, 97 of which occurred in this month while the rest were backlogs from previous months.

Healthcare utilization rate also decreased from March 14-20 to 16.6 percent from 17.2 percent in non-ICU beds, and 17.8 percent from 19.6 percent in ICU beds nationwide, according to the DOH.

On the other hand, the total number of individuals who continue to suffer severe and critical symptoms of COVID-19 decreased further to 809 last week from the previous week’s 1,006.

The government also reported Monday that the country now has 65,171,415 fully-vaccinated people, which is 72.41 percent of the target population, after 630,575 more received their jabs last week.

People who got their COVID-19 booster doses currently hit 11,530,728 after 370,191 more obtained their booster shots from March 14-20.

The DOH’s COVID-19 bulletin released Monday is its third weekly issuance after it decided to stop giving daily case bulletin on March 1.

READ: COVID-19 reporting to be done weekly — Andanar

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the DOH’s shift to weekly reporting on COVID-19 data would boost public confidence under the new normal.

KGA