ABOUT four months since the first case in the Philippines was reported, the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the country has reached 20,382 cases, records of the Department of Health showed yesterday.
The DOH reported 634 new infections as of 4 p.m. yesterday, with 313 considered as “fresh cases,” or those with test results released within the last three days, and 321 identified as “late cases,” or those with test results released after more than four days.
There were also 10 new fatalities, bringing the total to 984 deaths, and 95 more patients who have recovered from the disease, or total now 4,248 recoveries.
The DOH reported the first case on January 30, a 38-year-old Chinese woman.
The disease, which first emerged in China late last year, has spread to 216 countries and territories, according to the World Health Organization. It has infected about 6.4 million individuals and killed at least 382,000 persons as of June 4, WHO said.
Among Filipinos abroad, 96 more were reported infected with COVID-19, bringing the total to 5,355 cases in 49 countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
There were five new recoveries (total 2,210) and three more deaths (total 357).
The DFA said the Middle East and Europe still have the highest number of infected Filipinos, at 3,346 and 834, respectively. The two also recorded 112 and 91 deaths respectively.
The Americas recorded 657 cases and 152 deaths while the Asia-Pacific regions registered 518 cases and two fatalities.
The DFA also said the Filipino community in Hong Kong is now COVID-free.
The DFA has yet to say how many Filipinos were infected in Hong Kong but last month, 16 Filipinos were reported infected.
TESTING CAPACITY
The country’s capacity to conduct COVID tests has reached 41,990 a day, which the government hopes to further increase to 50,000 sometime this month. But actual tests being done amount to only around 12,000 daily.
The statements were issued by Vince Dizon, president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and concurrent deputy implementer of the National Task Force on COVID-19.
Dizon said the improved testing capacity is due to the increase in the number of accredited laboratories nationwide to process the tests, which now totals 52.
He said at least 100 applications for accreditation are pending, and several thousands of COVID-19 test kits are expected to be delivered next week, which will further raise the country’s testing capacity.
Based on the Department of Health’s daily COVID-19 Situationer Report, as of June 2, there were 40 licensed RT-PCR laboratories nationwide and 12 accredited GeneXpert laboratories.
There are also 111 laboratories, whose applications for accreditation are still pending.
Also, as of June 2, the DOH said all accredited laboratories have been able to conduct about 10,400 tests.
Dizon said with an improved capacity, government can also test asymptomatic persons, in addition to those with symptoms or confirmed exposure to COVID-19.
Dizon said testing of asymptomatic persons should start in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cebu City, and Davao City.
He said another target for the expanded targeted testing should be all frontliners, symptomatic or not, as well as transportation workers, law enforcers, office and mall guards, and cashier personnel at stores and supermarkets as they are more exposed to people and have been providing services even while there were lockdowns. — With Ashzel Hachero and Jocelyn Montemayor
