ONE hundred fifteen more died as the death toll from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) breached the 17,000 mark yesterday while the total number of infections rose to 1,020,495 after 6,895 new cases were reported by the Department of Health.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the new cases do not include figures from one laboratory that did not operate last April 26 and 15 laboratories that did submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS).
The total number of deaths rose to 17,031 for a case fatality rate of 1.67.
The number of active cases dipped to 67,769 from 71,675 last Tuesday, with 94.9 percent of them mild cases, 1.6 percent asymptomatic cases, 1.4 percent severe cases, 1.1 percent critical cases, and 0.95 percent moderate cases.
There were 10,739 new recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 935,695.
Thirty-one more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the deadly virus while four others died, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The number of Filipinos in 94 countries and territories who have contracted the virus since last y ear climbed to 18,301 while fatalities also rose to 1,145.
Majority of the cases and deaths — 10,443 and 747 — took place in the Middle East and African regions, followed by Asia and the Pacific with 3,546 cases, Europe with 3,355 and 957 in the Americas.
Navotas City Rep. John Rey Tiangco announced on Tuesday night that he was positive for COVID-19 although he was asymptomatic as of yesterday.
Tiangco said he tested positive after an antigen test and is still waiting for the result of his RT-PCR confirmatory test that took yesterday.
The following lawmakers had earlier tested positive for the deadly virus: Rep. Manny Lopez (Manila), former speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (Davao del Norte); Rep. Edgar Erice (Caloocan); majority leader Martin Romualdez; Rep. Michael Defensor (PL, Anakalusugan), Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong (Negros Oriental); deputy speaker Doy Leachon (Oriental Mindoro); Rep. Mannix Dalipe (Zamboanga City); Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela); Rep. Eric Pineda (PL, 1Pacman), Rep. Luis Ferrer IV (Cavite); deputy speaker Mujiv Hataman (Basilan) and Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Surigao dwl Sur).
Last year, Reps. Francisco Datol Jr. (PL, Senior Citizens) and Bernardita Ramos (Sorsogon) died of COVID-19.
The PNP opened a third COVID-19 quarantine facility at Camp Crame as the number of police personnel who contracted the deadly disease neared the 20,000 mark.
PNP chief Debold Sinas led the turnover and blessing of the facility that will cater to members of the police force and their dependents on Tuesday night.
The facility, dubbed the Basketball Court Ward of Kiangan Emergency Treatment Facility, has a 96-bed capacity and 16 cubicle shower-restroom/donning-doffing area with amenities needed by COVID patients.
Sinas said the PNP put up the facility on the advice of National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez. Quoting Galvez, Sinas said the PNP should prepare for another possible surge of COVID cases.
The PNP reported that 176 of its personnel have contracted the deadly virus, bringing the total number of infected policemen to 19,850 as of Tuesday night, with 17,986 having recovered and 1,809 still active cases, along with 55 deaths.
Meanwhile, six churches in Misamis Oriental have been temporarily closed by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro due to the pandemic.
In a Pastoral letter dated April 27, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan announced the 10-day closure of two churches in Cagayan de Oro and four in Misamis Oriental after several priests were infected with COVID-19.
“The closure will be in effect for 10 consecutive days, beginning April 28 to May 7. In the meantime, these parish churches have to be disinfected,” Cabantan said.
Included in the directive are the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene and San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, both in Cagayan de Oro City. Also closed temporarily were the Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church in Tagoloan, Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Jasaan, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Church in Bobontugan, and Sta. Cruz Parish Church in Laguindingan, all in Misamis Oriental.
Data from the Department of Health showed there are 5,108 COVID-19 cases in Cagayan de Oro City as of April 27. For the rest of Misamis Oriental, a total of 2,483 COVID-19 cases have been recorded. — With Ashzel Hachero, Wendell Vigilia, and Victor Reyes
