A DAY after setting a new record high in its daily count of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, the Department of Health yesterday reported 18,528 new infections nationwide, the second highest single-day tally in the country.
The DOH said seven (7) laboratories were unable to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last August 27.
The total number of cases reported nationwide is now at 1,954,023 COVID-19. On Saturday, the Philippines recorded its highest daily record of 19,441 cases.
Among the confirmed cases, the DOH said there were 101 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths due to the virus to 33,109. The case fatality rate currently stands at 1.69.
On the other hand, the DOH reported 17,922 COVID-19 patients have recovered. In all, there are now a total of 1,777,693 COVID-19 survivors, or 91 percent of the total number of patients recorded.
The DOH said there are 143,221 active cases in the country, or 7.3 percent of the total number of cases tallied by the government.
Of the active cases, 95.3 percent are mild cases, two (2) percent are asymptomatic cases, 1.1 percent are severe cases, one (1) percent are moderate cases, and 0.6 percent are critical cases.
After seeing a record-setting weekend, the independent OCTA Research Group said it will not be impossible to see higher numbers in the coming days.
In a radio interview, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said: “We can’t say yet if it will reach 25,000. But it’s very possible that it will be more than 20,000, maybe by a few thousands.”
He said OCTA is expecting to see the peak of the current spike in cases “by the 1st or 2nd week of September.”
David said the reproduction number for COVID-19 remains above 1, which “means that cases are still increasing.”
Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday said a 53-year old liaison officer from the Mimaropa regional police office has succumbed to COVID-19, bringing to 104 the number of policemen who have died from the virus.
The patient was brought to a hospital on August 20 after he experienced fever and underwent RT-PCR testing, which yielded a positive result.
The patient experienced difficulty in breathing on August 21 and was declared dead by his attending physician on the same day.
Police said the patient underwent dialysis for almost three years due to chronic kidney disease. He is also diabetic and has hypertension.
He received his first COVID-19 vaccine dose last August 19.
The PNP yesterday reported 143 more COVID-19 cases, bringing to 34,316 the total infections in the police force as of yesterday. Of the number, 1,917 are active cases, while 32,295 have recovered.
In Abra, Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian on Saturday became the latest member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to test positive for COVID-19.
In a public announcement, Jaucian disclosed that he has been infected with COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. “Having been fully vaccinated and diligently following health protocols, COVID-19 has not escaped me,” said Jaucian.
The prelate said he is currently undergoing home isolation, while advising those he had come in close contact with to observe health protocols.
He also asked for prayers for everyone afflicted with the dreaded disease.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 12 Catholic bishops known to have tested positive for COVID-19. These are Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Prefect Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Ilagan Bishop David William Antonio, Kalookan Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez, Lingayen-
Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, Imus Bishop Emeritus Manuel Sobreviñas, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Antonio Rañola, San Fernando (Pampanga) Archbishop Florentino Lavarias, Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, and Jaro Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo. — With Victor Reyes