DOH: Fresh COVID-19 cases down to 3,442 on June 19-25

The downward trend of new recorded COVID-19 cases extended this week at 3,442— a 20% decline from the previous week, data by the Department of Health (DOH) showed Monday.

The DOH’s latest bulletin showed that the accumulated cases logged from June 19 to June 25 were lower than the 4,281 cases from June 12 to June 18.

The number of new cases this week was the lowest in nine weeks, according to GMA Integrated News Research. This also marked the fifth consecutive week of decreasing new weekly cases, and the second straight week where less than 5,000 cases were noted.

The daily case average also decreased from last week’s 612 to 492.

This was the first time after eight weeks where less than 500 average daily new cases were reported.

Even the seven-day testing positivity rate further dipped in various areas in the country based on OCTA Research’s data, with that in the National Capital Region reaching 6% on June 24 from 7.3% on June 17.

Positivity rate—or the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested—also went down in most Luzon provinces, particularly in Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, La Union, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, meanwhile, the positivity rate was seen lowest in Davao del Sur and Cebu, with 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively. 

The DOH said there were no additional verified COVID-19-related deaths recorded from June 19 to June 25.

However, there were 37 additional severe and critical cases registered in the covered period.

423 cases reported Monday

Meanwhile, the DOH said 423 fresh infections were recorded in the country on Monday, increasing the total nationwide caseload to 4,163,175.

The active infections dropped from Sunday’s 8,244 to 8,033 — the lowest number of active cases since May 3. It marked the third straight day of decreasing cases and the ninth straight day of more than 8,000 active infections.

Total recoveries increased by 634 to 4,088,660 while the death toll still stood at 66,482.

The highest number of new cases in the last 14 days were reported in Metro Manila with 1,654. It was followed by Central Luzon with 1,152; CALABARZON with 1,055; Western Visayas with 664; and Ilocos Region with 551.

A total of 4,115 individuals were tested for the virus on Sunday, June 25, with 267 testing laboratories submitting results.

COVID-19 bed occupancy in the country was still at low risk at 17.7%.

Hospitals, vaccination

In total, 325 severe and critical cases were admitted in hospitals due to COVID-19 as of June 25. This accounted for 10.7% of the total COVID-19 admissions.

There were also 204 intensive care unit (ICU) beds used or 13% of the 1,564 beds available. Meanwhile, 2,274 or 17.7% of the 12,855 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were occupied.

As for vaccination, the DOH said 78.4 million Filipinos were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of March 19. This covered 100.4% of the government’s target population.

At least 7.1 million senior citizens, or 82.16% of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series.

Meanwhile, 23.8 million individuals have received their booster shots. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News