Philippines records 832 new COVID-19 cases from Feb. 20-26

The Philippines registered 832 fresh COVID-19 infections from February 20 to February 26, 2023, the latest Department of Health (DOH) weekly bulletin said on Monday.

According to the DOH, the daily case average for the recent week totaled 119, 7% lower than the 128 infections monitored from February 13 to February 19, 2023.

Latest data from the agency also showed a total of 73 additional verified COVID-19-related deaths were belatedly reported in the past week. These deaths were logged from August 2020 until this month.

“Of the 78 deaths, 2 occurred in February 2023, 3 in March 2022, 1 in February 2022, 12 in January 2022, 3 in December 2021, 4 in November 2021, 4 in October 2021, 19 in September 2021, 8 in August 2021, 5 in July 2021, 2 in June 2021, 3 in May 2021, 3 in April 2021, 2 in March 2021, 2 in February 2021, 1 in October 2020, 3 in September 2020, and 1 in August 2020,” the DOH said.

Two of these fatalities occurred between February 13 to February 26 alone, it added.

The agency also said 370 severe and critical cases were admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19 as of February 26. Of the 2,163 intensive care unit (ICU) beds for coronavirus patients, 291 or 13.5% were occupied. A total of 3,191 or 17.9% of the 17,830  non-ICU COVID-19 beds, meanwhile, were currently in use.

No severe or critical cases were identified in the new cases logged this week.

95 new cases on Monday

Meanwhile, the DOH said 95 new coronavirus cases were monitored in the country, bringing the total nationwide caseload to 4,076,237.

This lowers the active infections to 9,292 from the 9,327 recorded on Sunday, latest data from the agency showed.

The total number of recoveries rose to 4,000,837 while the death toll is now at 66,108.

The highest number of fresh cases in 14 days were reported in Metro Manila with 420. It was followed by Davao Region with 235; CALABARZON with 177; Western Visayas with 91; and Soccksargen with 85.

COVID-19 bed occupancy in the country is still at low risk with 16.8%.

A total of 5,403 individuals were tested for the virus on Sunday, February 26. 285 testing laboratories submitted their results.

Vaccination updates

Meanwhile, over 73 million Filipinos or 93.60% 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 79.48% of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series, the agency said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News