DOH: Average new COVID-19 cases 36% higher on Dec. 5-11

The uptrend of newly recorded COVID-19 cases has extended from December 5 to December 11, 2023, with daily average cases at 260 — about 36% higher than the previous week. 

Latest data by the Department of Health (DOH) released Tuesday showed that a total of 1,821 fresh COVID-19 cases were registered from Dec. 5 to 11, an increase from the 1,340 cases logged from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4. 

The daily case average in the recent week also went up to 260 from the previous week's 191. 

Thirteen deaths related to COVID-19 were also belatedly recorded from the recent covered period. Of these, three occurred in December 2023 and 10 in November 2023. 

There were also 13 additional severe and critical cases logged from Dec. 5 to 11, the DOH said. 

In total, 228 severe and critical COVID-19 cases were admitted in hospitals as of Sunday, Dec. 10, which accounted for 9.6% of the total COVID-19 admissions.

There were also 176 intensive care unit (ICU) beds used or 13.6% of the 1,298 beds available. On the other hand, 1,833 or 16.5% of the 11,111 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were occupied. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News