WITH 21 laboratories failing to submit data last Sunday, new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases expectedly dipped to 5,683 yesterday but deaths continued to soar as 97 more succumbed to the deadly virus.
In its latest bulletin, the Department of Health did not explain why the 21 labs failed to forward figures to the COVID-19 Document Repository System. Last Monday, when 7,255 new cases were reported, 15 laboratories failed to submit data last May 1.
The new cases were the lowest since March 23, when 5,867 new infections were reported.
Overall, the total number of infections in the country soared to 1,067,892 while the death toll climbed to 17,622, just 348 short of reaching 18,000, for a case fatality rate of 1.65.
Active cases dipped to 66,060 from 69,466 last Monday, with 94.6 percent of them mild cases, 1.7 percent asymptomatic cases, 1.5 percent severe cases, 1.2 percent critical cases, and 0.98 percent moderate cases.
The DOH reported 9,028 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 984,210.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 26 more overseas Filipinos have been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected Filipinos in 94 countries and territories to 18,416.
No new deaths were reported by embassies and consulates. The death toll among overseas Filipinos stands at 1,147.
The DFA said 12 more recovered from the virus, bringing the number of survivors to 11,289.
The region with the highest number of virus-hit Filipinos is the Middle East and Africa, with 10,453 cases and 747 deaths. — With Ashzel Hachero
