LESS than 300 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were reported by the Health Department Thursday, which a health official attributed to a new process being adopted by the agency to monitor cases.
The latest Case Bulletin of the DOH showed 294 new cases, supposedly the second lowest number of cases the past month, raising the country’s total to 38,805. Last June 5, the DOH reported 244 new cases.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the low number of cases can be attributed to the earlier cut off temporarily adopted by the DOH Epidemiology Bureau.
“It could be due to the adjustment of our time in extracting data from the system. From the previous 24 hours, we now have 19 hours worth of data as we transition into a new process,” Vergeire said in a televised press briefing.
Of the new cases, 52 are “fresh cases” while 242 are “late cases.”
The DOH also said four more patients died, raising to 1,274 the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the Philippines, while 235 more patients have recovered, meaning there are now 10,673 patients who have survived the deadly virus.
Globally, as of July 2, there were 10,458,422 confirmed cases, including 511,082 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that 108 more overseas Filipinos have been infected with the deadly virus while seven more have died.
It said the increase in cases came mostly from the Middle East, which has topped the other regions in terms of confirmed cases and deaths among overseas Filipinos, and the Asia Pacific regions.
It explained the spike in cases does not mean more overseas Filipinos are getting infected but due to “more accurate sourcing of data as well as late reports received by our Foreign Service posts” from their host countries.
In all, there are now 8,614 Filipinos in 61 countries with the virus, up from Wednesday’s 8,506.
The seven new deaths, all in the Middle East, brought the death toll to 561 while the number of recoveries rose to 5, 148 after 17 additional recoveries.
The Middle East now has 6,253 cases and 296 deaths among Filipinos while Europe has 1,009 cases and 94 deaths.
The Americas reported 695 cases and 168 deaths while the Asia and Pacific regions had 657 cases and three deaths.
The Agora market in San Juan was temporarily closed after one of vendors renting stalls tested positive for the deadly virus in tests being conducted by the city government. In all, 644 persons working at the market have undergone swab testing as of yesterday.
Mayor Francis Zamora said the employees, vendors and residents at the market will undergo self quarantine while waiting for the results of their test.
Zamora said those who will test positive will be brought to a quarantine facility in the city while those who test negative will remain at home until the market reopens.
Zamora added the Agora market and nearby areas have been disinfected. Contact tracing is being conducted on who interacted with the vendor.
As of July 1, there are 60 COVID cases, 58 suspected, 46 deaths, and 290 recoveries in the city.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno called on government anew to conduct mass testing of workers.
KMU chairman Elmer Labog said it is imperative for the government to include all returning workers in COVID tests to ensure their safety. — With Ashzel Hachero snd Christian Oineza
