FOR the first time in five months, new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country dipped to the 3,000 mark but there were 271 more deaths, according to the Department of Health.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said total infections in the country rose to 2,768,849, counting the latest count of 3,218, the lowest number since May 23 when 3,083 cases were reported.
The death toll rose to 42,348 for a case fatality rate of 1.53.
The positivity rate in the country stood at 7.6 percent out of the 41,049 tests conducted last October 25.
Active cases further dropped to 50,152 from 53,642 last Tuesday, with 73.4 percent mild cases, 11 percent moderate cases, 6.8 percent asymptomatic cases, 6.2 percent severe cases, and 2.6 percent critical cases.
The DOH also reported 6,660 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 2,676,349. This means that 96.7 percent of COVID patients have recovered.
Active COVID cases in the PNP dropped by 80 percent, from a high of 3,217 last September 17 to just 655 as of yesterday.
Data from the PNP Administrative Support for COVID-19 Task Force said the current active cases included 34 new infections detected in the 223,133-strong police force.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar earlier attributed the declining number of infections in the PNP to the vaccination program that he said is a “game changer” in the fight against the pandemic.
Of the 655 personnel currently infected, 477 are assigned to police regional offices, 132 with the national operational support units, 32 with the national administration units, and 14 in the national headquarters.
Data also showed that 531 of these active cases are outside Metro Manila. Eleven of the policemen still infected are in hospitals while 644 are housed in isolation facilities.
The PNP also reported that 198,016 of its personnel are now fully-vaccinated while 22,493 have received the first dose of two-dose vaccines. This means that 2,624 personnel have yet to be vaccinated. — With Victor Reyes
