FROM 10,035 last Tuesday, 11,085 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases were reported by the Department of Health yesterday, a figure that did not include data from nine laboratories, along with 161 more deaths.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said total infections in the country rose to 1,776,495 while the toll from the deadly virus climbed to 30,623 with a case fatality rate of 1.72.
Active cases dipped slightly to 105,151 from 105,787 last Tuesday, with 96 percent mild cases, 1.3 percent severe cases, 1 percent asymptomatic cases, 0.9 percent moderate cases, and 0.7 percent critical cases.
The DOH also reported 11,628 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 1,640,721. This means that 92.4 percent of COVID patients have recovered.
Iloilo Rep. Janet Garin announced yesterday that she contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated against the disease and is now recovering at home, with mild symptoms.
“Despite following the minimum health protocols and being extra cautious, I tested positive for COVID-19. It is fortunate that I am fully vaccinated. I can sleep soundly with the hope that this will not be severe despite my pre-existing conditions: asthma, hypertension and Raynaud’s disease,” she said.
Garin, a former health secretary during the Aquino administration, said she may have contracted the Delta variant since it is prevalent among fully vaccinated COVID patients.
She said she most probably got infected by a fully vaccinated house helper who recently went home to visit her family.
Two policemen assigned in Metro Manila and South Cotabato, one of them fully vaccinated, are the latest cops to die from COVID-19, raising the PNP’s death toll from the virus to 98.
One of them, a 52-year-old intelligence operative from Metro Manila who was fully vaccinated last July 4, died on arrival at a hospital on August 14. A post-mortem examination and swab test confirmed he had contracted the virus.
The second fatality was a 31-year-old policewoman-investigator assigned in Gen. Santos City who was admitted to the provincial hospital due to difficulty in breathing last August 5. A swab test showed she contracted the disease.
Pregnant at the time, she underwent a successful cesarean operation last August 10. On August 13, her conditioned worsened and she was transferred to another hospital where she died.
The PNP recorded 140 more COVID-19 cases, bringing to 32,760 the total infections in the police force, with 30,679 having recovered and 1,983 still active cases.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said the PNP is eyeing to vaccinate all its cops against COVID-19 before the end of the month.
As of yesterday, Eleazar said 37.5 percent or 83,324 policemen have been fully vaccinated while 43.82 percent or 97,363 have received the first dose.
In Metro Manila, 50.3 percent or 19,090 police have been fully vaccinated, 44.28 percent or 16,805 have received the first dose and 5.42 percent or 2,055 have yet to be vaccinated. — With Wendell Vigilia and Victor Reyes
