OVER 2,000 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were reported yesterday by the Department of Health (DOH), raising the total cases in the country to over 74,000.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said of the 2,200 new cases, majority came from the National Capital Region (NCR) with 1,546, followed by Cebu (246), Laguna (83), Rizal (61), and Cavite (48).
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 74,390 while 28 more deaths were reported, raising the number of fatalities to 1,871. Of the new deaths, 21 (75%) were from Region 7 and 7 (25%) were from NCR. The DOH noted that 26 (93%) of the deaths happened in July; 1 (4%) in May; and 1 (4%) in April.
The department said 760 more recorded, raising the number of survivors to 24,383.
Globally, as of July 22, there were 14,765,256 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 612,054 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
No new death was reported among overseas Filipinos yesterday although the Department of Foreign Affairs said 27 more were infected with the deadly virus.
This brings to 9,192 the number of Filipinos in 69 countries infected with the virus since its outbreak.
The DFA said there were 9 new recoveries from Europe and the Asia Pacific, bringing the total recoveries to 5,378.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said a security guard and two technical employees at the DOJ main office in Manila have tested positive for the virus.
“Those who were in contact with them were immediately advised to undergo immediate testing. Likewise, the premises of the technical staff were disinfected and will be disinfected again this weekend,” Guevarra said.
Four employees of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, including two from the Philippine Information Agency, have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, communication officials said.
PIA Director General Mon Cualoping said a two-week lockdown at the PIA Central Office in Quezon City had been in effect since July 13 while all personnel, including utility and security staff, at the central office had undergone swab tests after two of their fellow employees tested positive.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said none of the employees in his office had tested positive but they continue to hold office outside the New Executive Building that was locked down until July 26. The NEB is undergoing disinfection while all employees in the offices housed at NEB underwent PCR tests yesterday.
Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo has become the first prelate in the country to be afflicted with COVID-19.
In a letter addressed to his fellow priests, Pabillo said he tested positive after undergoing swab testing.
“I know this virus will pass, so please do not worry about me, although prayers would be very much appreciated,” he said, adding he is asymptomatic and is staying at a designated community quarantine facility.
“My condition is being monitored and I take healthy food and vitamins, and do physical exercise,” said Pabillo.
He said people in contact with him over the last week have been informed of his condition.
An employee of the House of Representatives died yesterday of COVID-19, making him the third fatality among 18 recorded cases in the Lower House.
“We are deeply saddened to know that he passed away early this morning,” House Secretary General Atty. Jose Luis G. Montales told reporters. “May he rest in peace. Our prayers for his loved ones during this difficult time.”
The fatality is a 52-year old employee of the Bills & Index Service. While he had had been working from home since June 18, the employee reported for work last June 29 to submit some documents, according to Montales.
The House of Representatives recorded its first death last March 16 and the second case was on March 21.
House Deputy Secretary General for Administrative Department Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque rejected calls for mass testing among House employees.
“So far, we’ll not do mass testing,” he told reporters. “What doctors of medicine and also with the help of UP (University of the Philippines) are saying is when you don’t repeat the testing, it’s not really that conclusive.”
While the House leadership has thumbed down mass testing among employees, all guests who will attend President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, including lawmakers and their staff, will have to undergo two consecutive COVID-19 tests before they are allowed to attend the event. They will have to undergo swab test (RT-PCR) a day before the event and another rapid test Monday morning, before the Presidents delivers his speech.
In contrast, the Senate has been subjecting its employees to rapid tests regularly and those who tests positive are being made to undergo swab tests.
Fifty-seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded at the Manila International Airport Authority as of July 23, according to MIAA Public Affairs Department office-in-charge Consuelo Bungag.
Bungag said 38 are active cases while the other 19 have recovered and some have reported back to work.
Bungay said another round of testing will be done this Saturday and twice or thrice a week for other employees within the next weeks. The MIAA has 6,462 organic and non-organic employees. — With Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn Montemayor, Wendell Vigilia and Noel Talacay
