FROM just 84 last Wednesday, 176 more deaths from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported yesterday by the Department of Health while new cases also surged to 5,735 from 4,478 and raised the total number of infections in the country to 1,572,287.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the toll from the deadly virus rose to 27,577 for a case fatality rate of 1.75.
Active cases also rose to 56,273 from 54,552 last Wednesday, with 93.5 percent mild cases, 2.3 percent severe cases, 1.6 percent moderate cases, 1.4 percent critical cases, and 1.2 percent asymptomatic cases.
The DOH also reported 4,069 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 1,488,437. This means that 94.7 percent of COVID patients have recovered.
A police sergeant assigned at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame is the latest casualty in the police force due to COVID-19, PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said.
The death of the 40-year-old policeman brought to 82 the total number of police personnel who have succumbed to the virus.
The lawman tested for the deadly virus last July 11 and was brought to a quarantine facility. He was rushed to a nearby hospital last Saturday 24 when he had difficulty in breathing and died three days later.
“Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. As frontliners in fighting this unseen enemy, some of our police officers are putting their life on the line, saludo po ako sa inyo (I salute you),” Eleazar said.
The PNP also reported 156 new infections, bringing the total number of infections in the police force to 30,156. Of the confirmed cases, 29,117 have recovered while 957 are still active cases.
The Manila Police District said 892 of its policemen have been infected with the deadly virus since the pandemic began last year but only six remained as active cases as of July 28 while five have died.
Of the six active cases, three are assigned at Police Station 12 and one each in PS 13 and 6 and at the District Mobile Force Battalion. — With Victor Reyes and Ashzel Hachero