SEVENTY-TWO more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients died while 5,979 new cases were reported by the Department of Health yesterday, raising the total number of infections in the country to 1,149,925.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the new cases did not include figures from five laboratories that failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System last May 15.
The death toll climbed to 19,262 for a case fatality rate of 1.68.
Active cases dipped to 54,235 from 54,904 last Sunday, of which 93.3 percent are mild cases, 2 percent asymptomatic cases, 2 percent severe cases, 1.4 percent critical cases, and 1.2 percent moderate cases.
The total number of survivors rose to 1,076,428 after 6,602 more recovered.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 11 more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the deadly virus, bringing the total number of infections to 18,618.
But the DFA said it did not receive reports of any new fatality among overseas Filipinos.
In all, 1,162 overseas Filipinos have succumbed to the virus, mostly in the Middle East and African regions that have 758 fatalities, followed by 243 in the Americas, 130 in Europe and 31 in the Asia Pacific region.
The DFA reported five new recoveries, bringing the number of overseas survivors to 11,374.
A policeman assigned in Rizal province died of COVID-19, bring to 61 the number of PNP personnel claimed by the deadly virus.
The 39-year-old cop, with the rank of staff sergeant, tested positive for the virus last May 10 but was already experiencing symptoms like fever and difficulty in breathing before that.
The cop, who also has a chronic kidney disease, was brought to a hospital for emergency dialysis. He started dialysis sessions last May 15.
On May 16, the policeman again experienced difficulty breathing and was advised to have another dialysis session. Later that day, he was pronounced dead.
“I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of our policemen who died of COVID-19. The PNP is ready to extend any assistance to you,” said PNP chief Guillermo T. Eleazar.
The PNP also reported 69 new infections in the police force, raising the total cases to 21,924, with 20,456 having recovered and 1,407 still active cases. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
