DOH logs 1,545 new COVID-19 cases; active tally of 12,161 highest since January
The Department of Health on Monday confirmed 1,545 new COVID-19 cases, with active cases reaching a 16-week high of 12,161.
According to the DOH's COVID-19 tracker, Monday's new cases bring the country's total to 4,104,333. Recoveries rose by 792 to 4,025,719, while the death toll remains at 66,453.
The tally of 12,161 active cases is the highest since the total of 12,473 active cases being monitored on January 14, according to GMA Integrated News Research.
The region with the most new infections in the last 14 days is the National Capital Region (NCR) with 6,263; followed by Calabarzon with 3,271; Central Luzon with 962; Western Visayas with 779; and the Bicol Region with 559.
Among cities and provinces, Quezon City had the most new cases in the last 14 days with 1,365, followed by Cavite province with 1,067; Rizal province with 1,022; the City of Manila with 743; and Laguna province with 716.
COVID-19 bed occupancy in the country is currently at 19.1%, with 4,703 beds occupied and 19,937 vacant.
A total of 4,691 individuals were tested for the virus on Sunday, with 276 testing laboratories submitting results.
Independent monitoring firm OCTA Research also announced a nationwide positivity rate of 18.8% on Monday, down from 19.9% on Sunday. The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested.
The DOH earlier announced that it had logged 9,465 new COVID-19 cases in the week from May 1 to May 7, 2023, with the daily case average at 1,352, a 112% increase from the week previous.
The World Health Organization on Friday lifted the designation of COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern, but cautioned that the virus is here to stay. The DOH also said that it will convene to review health guidelines after the WHO's announcement.
OCTA Research has urged the DOH to continue its advisories on the virus. — BM, GMA Integrated News