FROM 1,923 last Saturday, new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases dipped to 1,712 yesterday, the lowest so far this year, but 77 more lost their battle against the deadly virus, according to the Department of Health.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said total cases in the country rose to 3,652,203, counting the 2,232 new infections last Friday, while the death toll climbed to 55,684 for a case fatality rate of 1.52 percent.
The current positivity rate in the Philippines stood at 8.8 percent among the 28,500 tested samples on February 18.
There were 60,532 active cases, with over 55,000 mild cases and more than 2,800 moderate cases.
The DOH also reported 3,686 additional recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 3,535,987.
The PNP reported just four new COVID-19 cases among its personnel, one of the fewest reported this year, just one up the three last Saturday, the lowest in the police force.
This brought to 88 the number of active cases in the PNP, which is playing a key role in the fight against the pandemic, specifically in the implementation of health protocols.
Since 2020, the PNP has recorded a total of 48,766 cases — 48,550 recoveries, 88 active cases, and 128 deaths.
The PNP said the number of areas under granular lockdown in the country went down to 226 last Saturday, from 251 last Wednesday.
The Cordillera Administrative Region remained as the region with the highest granular lockdown with 129, followed by Ilocos region (61), National Capital Region (28), and Cagayan Valley (8).
These areas, situated in 109 barangays within 14 cities and municipalities, are manned by 142 policemen, four soldiers and 302 force multipliers or personnel from local government units.
The PNP said the granular lockdowns affect 267 households or 343 individuals.
ONE HOSPITAL COMMAND
An official of the DOH raised the possibility of the One Hospital Command (OHC) being retained even after the pandemic ends.
“The OHC has been a big help. In fact, it provides proper referral and coordination of health facilities across the country,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said in a radio interview.
“We want this institutionalized. It is really helpful even after COVID, even after the pandemic,” he said, adding the system in place for the OHC will remain useful in other medical cases.
“For example, a patient in Mindanao needs a heart surgery and it cannot be done there, the patient may be referred to another hospital. We want the connectivity of all hospitals in all regions to remain for close coordination and referral of patients,” said Vega.
He added there is a need to maintain the OHC for COVID-19 patients.
“We need to maintain this flexibility so that, in case of Alert Level 2 or 3 being raised, we won’t be caught ill-prepared,” Vega said, adding they have started coordinating with lawmakers regarding the institutionalization of the OHC.
“We have asked Congress, its committee on health, to have a bill that will make OHC institutionalized,” said Vega.
Back in August 2020, the DOH launched the One Hospital Command as part of the government’s response to the pandemic. The OHC is mandated to facilitate a comprehensive and coordinated response to the pandemic by ensuring effective and efficient health facility referral. — With Victor Reyes
