A DAY after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country breached the one million mark, the Department of Health reported 7,204 new cases yesterday, along with 63 more deaths for a death toll of 16,916, just 84 short of 17,000.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the number of new cases does not include data from two laboratories that did not operate last April 25 and 22 laboratories that failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS).
In all, infections in the country rose to 1,013,618 while the case fatality rate stood at 1.67.
The number of active cases dipped further to 71,675 from 74,623 last Monday, with 95.2 percent mild cases, 1.5 percent asymptomatic cases, 1.3 percent severe cases, 1.1 percent critical cases, and 0.90 percent moderate cases.
There were 10,109 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 925,027 for a 91.3 percent recovery rate.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that instead of zeroing in on the grim milestone of one million cases, the public should also consider that nearly one million Filipinos have survived the deadly disease.
“You can look at the 1 million cases from a different angle. That, sooner rather than later, we can reach a million recoveries also,” said Duque.
“Among our active cases, 96 percent are mild or asymptomatic. We have to look at it at a more optimistic lens of getting recovery rate with more than 90 percent,” Duque said, adding the country’s healthcare system should focus on better treating COVID patients.
He also cited the need to continuously make available COVID beds to patients in need of hospital admission.
“We have to focus on improving further our response. There are always ways to do things better. I’m not saying we are successful. But there is always an opportunity to do things better,” said Duque.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 17 more overseas Filipinos were infected with the deadly virus while 15 more died.
The number of Filipinos in 93 countries who have contracted the virus since last year climbed to 18,270 while the number of fatalities rose to 1,141.
There are also 26 new recoveries, bringing the number of survivors to 11,220.
The Middle East and African regions still had the highest numbers in cases and deaths among overseas Filipinos with 10,442 and 747, respectively.
Asia Pacific reported 3,519 cases and 26 deaths, while 3,355 cases and 130 deaths were reported in Europe.
There are only 954 Filipinos in the Americas who caught the virus but it has the second highest death toll with 238. — With Ashzel Hachero
