DOH logs 17,145 new COVID-19 cases from Aug.29–Sept.4, 2022

The Philippines recorded a total of 17,145 new COVID-19 cases in the period August 29 to September 4, 2022, a 10% lower tally than the cases reported the previous week, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.

Based on the DOH’s weekly case bulletin, the cases logged during this period was a decrease from the 19,262 cases from August 22 to August 28.

The daily case average for the recent week was 2,449—also lower than the previous 2,752.

For the past week, a total of 354 additional verified COVID-19-related deaths were belatedly recorded by the DOH. These deaths were logged from July 2021 to September 2022.

Of the 354 deaths, one occurred in September 2022, 145 in August 2022, eight in July 2022, ten in June 2022, six in May 2022, three in April 2022, five in March 2022, 25 in February 2022, 115 in January 2022, 22 in December 2021, eight in November 2021, four in October 2021, one in September 2021, and another one in July 2021.

One hundred eight of these also occurred between August 22 to September 4.

Data also showed that 768 severe and critical cases were admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19 as of September 4.

Of the 2,529 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 595 or 23.5% were occupied. Meanwhile, 5,974 or 29.3% of the 20,387 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were in use.

Of the new cases recorded in the covered period, there were 40 individuals tagged as new severe or critical cases. This was 0.28% of the new cases reported for the week.

2,202 new cases on Monday

Meanwhile, the country’s Health Department monitored 2,202 new COVID-19 infections on Monday—the fourth straight day the Philippines recorded fewer than 3,000 fresh coronavirus cases, and the lowest new tally in five days.

This brings the total nationwide caseload to 3,893,573 and increases the number of active infections to 24,493, the highest tally in six days.

Total recoveries climbed by 1,678 cases to 3,893,573 while the country’s death toll rose by 51 cases to 62,062—the 14th straight day of at least 40 new deaths.

Metro Manila reported the highest number of new cases in the last 14 days with 9,264 infections, followed by Region IV-A with 4,453. Region III recorded 2,921 while Western Visayas had 1,504. Davao Region monitored 1,435 infections.

Bed occupancy in the country remains at low risk, the DOH added, with 27.4% or 7,946 of the total 28,963 hospital beds nationwide occupied.

13,181 individuals in the country were tested for the virus on Sunday, August 4. 302 testing laboratories submitted their results.

Vaccination updates

A total of 72,620,247 individuals or 92.98% of the government’s target population are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to DOH.

Of this number, 143,737 were vaccinated from August 29 to September 4.

Meanwhile, at least 6.8 million senior citizens or 78.14% of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series.

The DOH also noted that 18,194,645 individuals have received their booster shots, of whom 351,297 were boosted in the same period. — BM, GMA News