WHILE the death toll from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, which breached the grim mark of 30,000 last Saturday, continued to race up north, 14,749 new cases were reported by the Department of Health yesterday, the second highest single day rise in the country.
The new infections surpassed the 14,249 cases reported last Saturday, which previously stood as the second highest since April 2 when 15,310 new cases were reported. Last Friday, 13,177 new cases were reported.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the number of infections in the country rose to 1,741,616 while the toll climbed to 30,340, counting the 270 new deaths yesterday for a case fatality rate of 1.74. Last Friday, there were 299 deaths and 233 last Saturday.
Three laboratories failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last August 13.
Active cases jumped to 102,748 from 98,847 last Saturday, with 95.9 percent mild cases, 1.3 percent severe cases, 1.1 percent asymptomatic cases, 0.9 percent moderate cases, and 0.8 percent critical cases.
The DOH also reported 10,720 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 1,608,528.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, several days after Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna also came down with the virus.
“I feel some cough and I have a bit of cold. My body hurts,” said Moreno, who was brought to the Sta. Ana Hospital, according to the city public information office.
Moreno assured his constituents that the operation of the city government, including its COVID-19 response efforts, would not be affected or hampered even if he and Lacuna have been infected with the virus.
“Hang on. Life continues. The government in Manila will continue. Have trust in God and we will recover,” he said.
A police captain and an executive master sergeant succumbed to COVID-19, raising to 91 the PNP’s death toll due to the deadly virus.
The 49-year-old captain, assigned in Northern Mindanao, underwent RT-PCR test after he experienced cough and fever from July 26 to 28, according to reports reaching Camp Crame.
The officer was admitted at a hospital on July 30 after the test showed he was positive for COVID. On Aug. 5, his oxygen level continued to decrease and died the following day.
The second fatality, assigned in Calabarzon, was admitted at a hospital on Aug. 9 after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. He received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on July 19.
He died on August 11. A post-mortem examination and swab test showed the fatality was infected with the virus.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar expressed his condolences to the families of the policemen and assured them the PNP will extend all the financial assistance due them.
Eleazar also reported 131 new infections in the police force, bringing to 32,364 the total infections in the PNP, with 30,314 having recovered and 1,959 still active cases.
The PNP also reported that 77,735 or 35.05 percent of the total 221,782 police personnel have already fully vaccinated against the deadly virus. It said 90,230 other personnel or 40.68 percent of the entire PNP force have received the first dose of vaccine.
Only 53,817 or 24.27 percent of PNP personnel have yet to be vaccinated. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
