AFTER more than a week of bleak results, the Department of Health yesterday reported that more than 40,000 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients have recovered, which Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire attributed to the agency’s “Oplan Recovery.”
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said 40,397 more have recovered from the deadly virus, higher than the 38,075 recoveries reported back in July 30, bringing to 112,586 the total number of survivors in the country.
But there were 3,420 new cases reported yesterday, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 161,253, along with 65 new deaths.
Of the new cases reported, majority came from the National Capital Region (NCR) at 2,091, followed by Laguna (263), Cavite (149), Batangas (137), and Rizal (106).
In all, the number of fatalities has risen to 2,665. Majority of the new deaths were recorded in NCR with 46, with Central Visayas reporting 13, Calabarzon (3), Central Luzon (1), Bicol Region (1), and Davao Region (1).
Vergeire said the agency’s “Oplan Recovery” is an initiative aimed to monitor the statuses of confirmed COVID-19 cases, particularly deaths and recoveries.
“Through this initiative, data collection, validation, and reconciliation of information are enhanced between the DOH Central and Regional Offices and the Local Government Units (LGUS),” Vergeire.
“Oplan Recovery has been constant and continuous in order to ensure that our data is updated and accurate,” she added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reported three new confirmed COVID cases among overseas Filipinos but no new deaths yesterday.
The number of overseas Filipinos infected with the virus since its outbreak rose to 9,896 in 72 countries, with 5 842 having recovered, while 3,329 are still undergoing treatment.
As of Saturday, the number of overseas Filipinos who succumbed to the virus stood at 725.
In terms of cases and fatalities, the Middle East and African regions remained on top with 6,892 and 444, respectively, with majority of them in the Middle East where more than two million Filipinos live and work.
Europe followed in terms of cases with 1,146, the Asia Pacific region with 1,067 and the Americas with 791.
In terms of deaths, the Americas came in behind the Middle East and African regions with 178, followed by 95 in Europe and 8 in the Asia Pacific region.
AÑO TESTS POSITIVE ANEW
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who is playing a key role in the fight against COVID-19, has tested positive for the coronavirus disease, the second time he was infected with the virus since March.
Año yesterday said he experienced flu-like symptoms, including sore throat and body aches, last Thursday and promptly began quarantine. He said he underwent PCR test the following day and on Saturday night, tested positive.
Año implied he got the virus during his visit of local government units as part of government efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, he, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, National Action Plan chief implementer Carlito Galvez, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and Social Welfare Secretary Roland Bautista went to Antipolo City to distribute face mask to residents.
Año said physical distancing was violated during ambush interviews by media during these visits.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac belied rumors that PNP chief Archie Gamboa held a party in Baguio City over the weekend in connection with his upcoming retirement on September 2.
Gamboa said: “There is no truth to the allegations spreading on social media… There was no party or concert. It was a dinner that ended at 9:30 p.m. Social distancing was strictly followed and the food was individually catered.”
Yesterday, Gamboa said he had a meeting with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and other police officials in Baguio City and Cordillera region “to brief me on the peace and order situation of the region.”
Gamboa, a member of the Philippine Military Military Academy class of 1986, was due to be given a testimonial parade and review at the PMA over the weekend.
PMA spokeswoman Maj. Cherryl Tindog said the testimonial parade and review did not push due to the community quarantine.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) over the weekend reported 128 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections in its office and attached agencies.
As of August 15, there were 128 confirmed cases, 95 active cases, 30 recovered patients, and three have succumbed to COVID-19.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, the Cabinet “big brother” overseeing the COVID-19 fight in Quezon City, said the city government is monitoring close to 9,000 people who may either be infected or not after they were identified through the contract tracing of people who were exposed to confirmed COVID-19 patients.
He said there are 2,149 active cases in the city, with 8,946 suspected cases that are being monitored.
He said as of August 15, more than 8,500 people in Quezon City have been infected with COVID-19, with5,982 recovered cases and 357 deaths.
Nograles said Quezon City is hoping to hire 750 contact tracers to intensify efforts to trace and identify people who may be infected by COVID-19.
Quezon City and the rest of Metro Manila, along with Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, are under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until August 18. President Duterte is expected to announce on August 17 if the MECQ status would remain or be downgraded to the general community quarantine (GCQ).
At the Batasan, the House leadership recorded its 43rd COVID case, a female employee from the plenary support service.
“She was a close contact of our confirmed case from the Committee on Rules. She reported for work on Aug. 3-5. Contact tracing is ongoing,” Secretary General Joel Montales told reporters.
The number of cases includes Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. who died of the Monday last week.
The Justice Department 12 of its employees have been infected with COVID-19 since March, with six having recovered. — With Victor Reyes, Ashzel Hachero, and Wendell Vigilia
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said this was due to the lockdown implemented by the department and other measures such as the regular disinfection of offices and the premises of the DOJ main building in Manila after the first case was reported.
The DOJ has more than 700 employees at its main office in Manila. Perete said of the 12 employees, 11 are permanent while one is an outsourced personnel.
