Philippines reports below 10K new COVID-19 cases for 6th straight week

The Philippines registered 8,292 new COVID-19 infections from December 5 to December 11, 2022, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.

According to the latest DOH bulletin, the daily case average for the recent week was 1,185 —seven percent higher than the 8,032 infections monitored from November 28 to December 4.

This is the sixth straight week when the country reported fewer than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases.

Latest DOH data also showed a total of 156 additional verified COVID-19-related deaths were belatedly reported in the past week. These deaths were logged from June 2020 until December this year.

“Of the 156 deaths, 30 occurred in December 2022, 36 in November 2022, 1 in October 2022, 6 in February 2022, 9 in January 2022, 1 in December 2021, 4 in November 2021, 17 in October 2021, 19 in September 2021, 6 in August 2021, 3 in July 2021, 4 in June 2021, 7 in May 2021, 7 in April 2021, 1 in February 2021, 1 in December 2020, 1 in September 2020, 2 in August 2020, and 1 in June 2020,” the agency said.

Of the total figures, 34 deaths occurred between November 28 to December 11, it added.

A total of 650 severe and critical cases were admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19 as of December 11. Of the 2,435 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for coronavirus patients, 22.4% or 2,435 were occupied. Meanwhile, 4,758, or 24% of the 19,824 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were currently in use.

Of the new cases recorded in the recent week, six individuals were tagged as new severe or critical cases.

1,115 new cases on Monday

Meanwhile, the DOH on Monday said 1,115 new COVID-19 infections were recorded in the country, increasing the total nationwide caseload to 4,050,045.

This is the sixth straight day more than 1,000 new cases were monitored in the Philippines, with 1,158 new infections tallied on Saturday.

Based on the latest DOH data, the country’s active infections climbed to 18,355 from Sunday’s  18,252.

Total recoveries rose to 3,966,788 while the death toll now stands at 64,902.

Metro Manila remained the highest region with new COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days with 5,579. It was followed by CALABARZON with 2,319; Central Luzon with 1,130; Cagayan Valley, 793, and Western Visayas with 740.

The country’s bed occupancy rate remains at low risk with 23.6% or 6,564 of the 27,780 total nationwide beds occupied and 21,216 vacant.

A total of 8,027 individuals were tested on Sunday, December 11. A total of 291 testing laboratories submitted their results.

Vaccination updates

Meanwhile, over 73 million Filipinos or 93.48% of the government’s target population have completed their COVID-19 vaccine primary doses, according to DOH.  Around 21 million individuals have received their booster doses.

At least 6.9 million senior citizens or 79.41% of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series, the DOH said.—LDF, GMA News