COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Philippines- the total 10,463 and exact death now at 696.
DOH records new highest increase in COVID-19 recoveries; total now at 1,734
‘The 2019 Plague” Day 163’
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday announced that the total number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recoveries in the country have reached a new record high with 116 new recoveries recorded on Friday, bringing the number of total recoveries to 1,734 as of May 8.
One hundred twenty new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were also recorded, raising the total to 10,463 as of May 8.
Meanwhile, nearly 700 patients have succumbed to the disease, with the addition of 11 new fatalities. The exact death toll is now at 696.
The DOH has so far tested more than 130,000 individuals in the country. It is aiming to conduct over 30,000 tests a day by the end of May to be able to determine the “complete picture” of the pandemic in the country.
The country’s COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 7 percent, which is still way below the 10 percent benchmark set by the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim, chief of the Infection and Tropical Disease department of the Philippine General Hospital earlier said.
The number reflects the “good performance” of the government in battling the respiratory disease, she added.
afflicted with COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus board.
Of the number, more than 269,000 have succumbed to the disease while over 1.2 million were able to recover from it.
By: Daphne Galvez – Reporter / INQUIRER.net
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86.7% of coronavirus cases in PH are mild–WHO
MANILA, Philippines—About 9,070 or 86.7% of all recorded COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are mild, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted in a situation report.
Of the total 10,463 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, meanwhile, 54% are male, with 30 to 39 years old as the most affected age group at 21.3%, followed by the 20 to 29 age group at 16.9%, according to the report released on Friday.
Of the 696 deaths recorded, 65% are also males with the most affected age group over 70 years at 36.6%, followed by the 60 to 69 years group at 32.6%.
Most of the COVID-19-related deaths reported are from Luzon, with Metro Manila having the most number of fatalities at 71.8%, followed by Calabarzon at 12.3% and Central Luzon at 4.1%.
“The current transmission classification in the Philippines is identified as clusters of cases with evidence of community transmission in highly urbanized areas of NCR, Cebu and Davao,” the WHO noted.
The country also on Friday recorded the highest increase of COVID-19 recoveries with 116 new recoveries, raising the total to 1,734.
COVID-19 testing capacity
The 23 accredited COVID-19 laboratories across the Philippines have been conducting over 7,000 RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) tests every day, the WHO said. While total daily testing capacity stands at around 13,000, the actual number of tests fluctuates “due to continued shortages of supplies.”
The Philippines heavily relies on RT-PCR tests as both the WHO and the Department of Health (DOH) have yet to validate rapid antibody testing, despite several laboratories in the country using the method.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday explained that rapid antibody test kits are not “stand-alone” tests as these only detect antibodies, not the novel coronavirus itself.
Vergeire earlier announced that the country will be able to conduct 30,000 tests per day by the end of May amid efforts to increase testing capacity for COVID-19. / By: Ian Biong / INQUIRER.net
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What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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