THIRTY-SIX more patients succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the death toll topped the grim mark of 20,000 while 3,972 new cases were reported by the Department of Health yesterday.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the number of new cases does not include figures from 10 laboratories that failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last May 23.
Overall, the death toll rose to 20,019 for a case fatality rate of 1.68 while the number of infections climbed to 1,188,672.
Active cases slightly dipped to 48,201 from 48,917 last Monday, with 92.7 percent mild cases, 2.1 percent severe cases, 2.1 percent asymptomatic cases, 1.6 percent critical cases, and 1.4 percent moderate cases.
The number of survivors rose to 1,120,452 after 4,659 more recovered. The DOH said this means that 94.3 percent of patients have recovered.
The number of Filipinos abroad infected with the deadly virus rose to 18,840 after 143 more cases were reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, with 10,473 recorded in the Middle East and African regions, 3,863 in Asia and the Pacific, 3,520 in Europe, and 984 in the Americas.
The DFA also reported 130 new recoveries, bringing the number of survivors to 11,560. No new fatality was reported, with the death toll standing at 1,168.
A policeman from Zamboanga died of COVID-19, raising the PNP death toll to 64, according to PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar.
Eleazar said the 44-year-old policeman tested positive on May 7 and was taken to an intensive care unit due to difficulty in breathing.
“On May 24, he was pronounced dead by his attending physician due to respiratory failure,” said Eleazar, adding the PNP continues to monitor the status of policemen who have contracted the disease. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
