THE Department of Health on Sunday reported 152 new new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, bringing the country’s total to over 3,246.
There were eight new deaths, or a total of 152, and seven more patients who have recovered, or a total of 64.
Globally, there were 1,051,635 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 56,985 deaths as of Sunday , according to the World Health Organization (WHO),
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the nearly 5 percent fatality rate from COVID-19 is due to the prevailing protocol in testing patients.
“Since we started with our present testing protocol, the ones we are testing are those who are severely ill and the so-called vulnerable population,” she said in a briefing.
The Philippines’ current fatality rate (CFR) is at 4.68 percent. Globally, the CFR is at 5.42 percent.
Vergeire said the number of recovered COVID-19 patients stands only at 64 due to the extended period it takes for a patient to become asymptomatic. She said studies show that it takes regular patients about two weeks to recover from COVID-19, while the severe or critical patients need about three to six weeks to recover.
“There is a prolonged time of recovery for COVID-19 patients. This is why our number of recoveries are not that high yet,” said Vergeire.
The 64 recoveries among COVID-19 patients places the recovery rate in the Philippines at 1.97 percent.
FILIPINOS OVERSEAS
The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said 49 Filipinos living or working abroad have died of COVID-19 since the outbreak of the virus in December last year.
On Saturday, the DFA said it recorded 43 Filipinos who succumbed to the virus.
Most of the deaths took place in the Americas with 24 followed by Europe at 21, three in the Middle East and African regions, and one in the Asia-Pacific region.
Overall, 525 Filipinos in 33 countries were infected with the virus. Of the 525, the DFA said 344 are undergoing treatment while 132 have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals.
Based on the data, 215 Filipinos in the Asia-Pacific region, 183 in Europe, 72 in the Americas, and 50 in the Middle East and African regions.
Locally, three new deaths were reported in Pasay City, bringing the total to 45.
In Rizal province, a total lockdown will be implemented today. Among the exempted are those working in supermarkets, markets, hospitals, food preparation, and delivery, transport delivery service, agricultural supply, and other working business establishments allowed by the national government to operate.
Authorized government officials, health workers, media personnel, repatriated OFWs, and religious ministers will also be allowed entry and will be subjected to mandatory thermal scanning or temperature check.
Only transport vehicles provided by local government units to frontliners and critical services workers can operate, with observation of strict physical distancing measures. — With Ashzel Hachero, Christian Oineza, and Noel Talacay
