NEARLY a week since the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) was imposed in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country continues to surge, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In its latest bulletin, the DOH reported 3,109 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 129,913.
Of the new cases reported, majority came from the National Capital Region (NCR) with 1,700 while Laguna had 169, Cebu (114), Rizal (98), and Cavite (93).
The DOH also reported 61 more deaths, raising the total number of fatalities to 2,270.
The new deaths were from Central Visayas (36 or 59%), NCR (16 or 26%), Ilocos Region (3 or 5%), Zamboanga Peninsula (2 or 3%), Calabarzon (2 or 3%), Eastern Visayas (1 or 2%), and Western Visayas (1 or 2%).
Of the 61 deaths, 17 (28%) happened in August, 34 (56%) in July, 6 (10%) in June, and 4 (7%) in May.
The DOH said there were 654 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 67,673.
Globally, as of August 8, there were 19,187,943 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 716,075 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
A senior Navy officer died of COVID-19 last week, bringing to 10 the number of military personnel who have succumbed to the deadly virus.
Navy chief Vice Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the officer, who has a rank of Captain (colonel in the Army), died at the V. Luna Hospital last Thursday.
Bacordo said the officer was previously confined at the Manila Naval Hospital in Fort Bonifacio due to fever, difficulty of breathing, and cough. He said later tests showed the officer was infected with the virus.
Bacordo said the officer was transferred to the V. Luna Hospital late night on Wednesday and was intubated after he became unresponsive to medicine. He said the officer expired at around 1 a.m. Thursday.
AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said 1,137 soldiers have been infected with the virus as of Saturday.
“Out of that number, only 473 are active cases…Sadly, there were 10 whose demise was due to COVID-19,” said Arevalo. The rest, he said, have recovered.
Among those who were infected with the virus was former AFP chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr.who retired last week. Santos was infected with the virus in March but has fully recovered.
Arevalo said AFP chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay “is closely monitoring these developments.”
The Presidential Communications Operations Office reported 98 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections in its main office and the different attached agencies under it.
As of August 9, PCOO recorded 77 active cases, 18 recovered and three deaths.
The National Printing Office (NPO) continues to have the most number of confirmed and active cases with 32; followed by the PCOO main office with 23 active cases, seven recovered and one death; the APO Printing (APO) with nine active cases, one recovered and one death; and Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM) reported with five active cases and three recovered.
Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo lambasted the manner by which the Duterte administration is handling the pandemic, saying it is both “embarrassing” and “worrisome.”
In his homily during his first Mass after his bout with COVID-19, Pabillo said it is unacceptable how the government has been responding to the health crisis in the Philippines, which has already overtaken Indonesia as having the most cases among Southeast Asian nations.
“It is really saddening that the government has not shown any feasible response on how to solve this health and economic issue. This is both embarrassing and worrisome,” he said, lamenting that the administration is more concerned with passing measures that have nothing to do with the COVID-19 crisis and its massive economic effects.
The prelate called on the public to come out and speak out their minds on what they believe are wrong things being done by the government.
“We should be bothered because we love our country. In times like this, our love and concern for our country must come out,” said Pabillo. — With Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
