FOR the second straight day, more than 4,000 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were reported by the Department of Health, majority of them coming from the National Capital Region, with the total number of cases rising to 147,526.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the 4,002 new cases included 319 from Laguna, 212 from Cebu, 142 from Rizal and 101 from Cavite.
There were 23 new deaths recorded, a day after 93 more died, raising the number of fatalities to 2,426. Ten deaths were record in NCR, while Calabarzon had 5, Central Visayas 3, Cordillera Administrative Region 3, Zamboanga Peninsula 1, and Northern Mindanao 1.
The DOH said there were 1,403 new recoveries, meaning the number of survivors rose to 70,387.
Globally, as of August 12, there were 20,162,474 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 737,417 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Last Wednesday, 4,444 new cases were reported that went with 2,987 last Tuesday and nearly 7,000 cases last Monday.
As the number of positive individuals continues to rise, the number of areas found with clustering of cases is also going up.
According to the DOH, there are now a total of 1,107 areas with clustering of COVID-19 cases, 69 of them newly-identified.
“We have observed that the cases right now or the infections are being identified in specific areas in the country, in the communities,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a television interview.
“So when we tried to look at our data, the number of clustering in communities is increasing,” she added.
Clustering of cases means there are two or more cases found in a specific area during a particular period.
The number of overseas Filipinos infected with COVID-19 also continued to rise as 57 more were added to the list yesterday, while another succumbed to the virus.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the number of overseas Filipinos sickened with the virus since its outbreak rose to 9,873 while the death toll now stands at 722.
The DFA said 5,821 have recovered while 3,330 are still undergoing treatment.
Fifteen more Filipinos in the Middle East/African regions were added to the list, bringing the number in the area to 6,889 from 6,874.
The lone fatality reported Thursday also took place in the region, bringing the death toll to 444.
Europe and the Americas did not register any new case and fatality, the DFA said.
The Asia-Pacific region recorded an increase in cases from Wednesday’s 1,015 to 1,057 while the number of deaths in the region remained at 8.
Meanwhile, another policeman has died due to COVID-19, bringing to 13 the number of lawmen who perished due to the virus.
Reports from the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame also showed 111 cops recently tested positive for the virus, raising the number of infected PNP personnel to 2,732 as of Wednesday night.
The PNP said the latest policeman to succumb from COVID-19 was from the National Capital Region Police Office. The NCRPO identified the cop as S/Sgt. Edgado Medrano, assigned with the Manila Police District. He is the third policeman from NCRPO to die of the disease.
Medrano was taken to the CT Reyes Hospital in Tanauan City in Laguna on July 23 due to fever, shortness of breath and cough.
He was tested the following day and the result on July 25 showed he was positive for the virus. He was re-tested on July 31 and the result that came out on August 3 showed he was negative for the virus.
But Medrano was intubated at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital on August 5 “due to persistent severe respiratory distress and decreased oxygen level.”
On August 11, during a scheduled dialysis, Medrano was pronounced dead. The NCRPO said the final diagnosis was acute respiratory failure, secondary to COVID-19.
“We extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family of our personnel. His service to PNP will never be forgotten. NCRPO will exert all our efforts to protect our men and prevent similar untimely untoward incidents,” said NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
