Philippines posts 4,084 new COVID-19 cases; positivity rate at 20.7%

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday registered 4,084 additional coronavirus disease infections, bringing the Philippines' total tally to 2,855,819.

Of the new infections, the DOH data showed that 4,057 occurred within 14 days from December 21, 2021 to January 3, 2022. The top regions with infections in the recent two weeks were Metro Manila with 2,831 or 70%, followed by Calabarzon with 571 or 14% and Central Luzon with 273 or 7%.

Ngayong 4 PM, Enero 3, 2022, ang Department of Health ay nakapagtala ng 4,084 na karagdagang kaso ng COVID-19. Samantala ay mayroon namang naitalang 497 na gumaling at 16 na pumanaw.

Sa kabuuang bilang ng mga naitalang kaso sa bansa, 0.9% (24,992) ang aktibong kaso, pic.twitter.com/jWw7kD5XsA

— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) January 3, 2022

The fresh cases also brought the active tally to 24,992 from 21,418 recorded on January 2, 2022. Of the 24,992, 795 are asymptomatic, 19,252 are mild, 3,051 are moderate, 1,563 are severe and 331 are critical.

The Philippines positivity rate rose to 20.7% with 18,587 total conducted tests.

This is much higher than the World Health Organization standard of less than 5% positivity rate. If the rate is 5% or higher, it means there is a high transmission rate of the virus.

The number of new cases is higher than the expected prediction of OCTA Research Group of 3,000 to 3,500 new infections. Dr. Guido David, OCTA Research Fellow, said Metro Manila's positivity rate will slow down at 28.7%.

NCR Positivity Rate growth stalls at 28.7%. Number of new cases on Jan 3 expected to decrease to 2k to 2.5k (NCR) and 3k to 3.5 (PH). @dzbb @allangatus @DZAR1026 @dzrhnews @NewsRmn @ABSCBNNews @PhilstarNews @dwiz882 @EagleNews @PHINewsNet1 @dzme_1530khz pic.twitter.com/4EloxRYV1f

— Dr. Guido David (@iamguidodavid) January 2, 2022

Further, the DOH data indicated that there were 16 new fatalities due to COVID-19, raising the death toll to 51,586.

Of the 16 deaths, 11 were reported in December 2021 (69%), 3 in October 2021 (19%), 1 in September 2021 (6%), and 1 in August 2021 (6%). DOH attributed the late reporting due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya.

Moreover, the total recoveries reached 2,779,241, with 497 new ones.

The DOH also revised the country's total tally by deleting 18 duplicates, including 15 recoveries, as well as 178 negative cases which include 177 recoveries.

Seven recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation, DOH also said.

A total of 23 non-reporting laboratories were recorded, of which two were non-operational and 21 failed to submit their data.

According to DOH data in the last 14 days, these labs contribute, on average, 5.1% of samples tested and 5.2% of positive individuals.

As for the healthcare system, the DOH recorded 23% occupancy rate for intensive care units nationwide and 13% utilization rate for mechanical ventilators all over the country.

In Metro Manila, 29% of ICU beds are in use while 16% of ventilators are utilized.—LDF, GMA News