DOH: 7,572 COVID-19 cases recorded from December 12-18

The Philippines registered 7,572 new COVID-19 infections from December 12 to December 18, 2022, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.

Based on the DOH’s weekly bulletin, the daily case average during the past week decreased to 1,082, nine percent lower than the 1,296 infections monitored the week before.

Latest data from the department also showed 186 additional verified COVID-19-related deaths belatedly reported in the past week. These deaths were logged from July 2020 until December this year.

Of the 186 deaths, 44 occurred in December 2022, 71 in November 2022, 32 in October 2022, 17 in September 2022, 3 in February 2022, 4 in January 2022, 1 in November 2021, 2 in October 2021, 2 in September 2021, 4 in August 2021, 1 in July 2021, 1 in May 2021, 1 in April 2021, 1 in March 2021, 1 in August 2020, and 1 in July 2020.

Thirty-eight of these fatalities occurred between December 5 to December 18 alone.

The DOH also said 565,928 severe and critical cases were admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19 as of December 19. Of the 2,501 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for coronavirus patients, 509, or 20.4% were occupied. 4,455 or 22.5% of the 19,819 non-ICU COVID-19 beds, meanwhile, were currently in use.

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

863 new COVID-19 cases on Monday

Meanwhile, the DOH on Monday said the Philippines reported 863 new COVID-19 cases — the lowest recorded since December 13.

This brings the total nationwide caseload to 4,057,129 and decreases the number of active infections to 17,593, based on the agency’s latest bulletin.

Total recoveries increased to 3,974,442 while the death toll now stands at 65,094.

The highest number of COVID-19 cases were monitored in the National Capital Region in the last 14 days with 5,718. It was followed by Calabarzon with 2,441; Central Luzon with 1,192; Western Visayas with 680 and Cagayan Valley with 667.

The country’s bed occupancy remains at low risk with 21.9% or 6,124 of the total 27,973 beds occupied and 21,844 vacant.

On Sunday-December 18, 8,009 individuals were tested for the coronavirus as 297 laboratories submitted their results.

Meanwhile, over 73 million Filipinos, or 94.41% of the government’s target population have completed their COVID-19 vaccine primary doses, according to DOH.  Around 21 million have received their booster doses.

At least 6.9 million senior citizens or 79.43% of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series, the agency said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News