NEW coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country dropped below the 10,000 mark, according to the Department of Health (DOH), while recurring technical issues in its database prevented it anew from reporting additional deaths.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH reported 9,055 new infections, the first time that less than 10,000 cases were reported since August 10, when 8,560 cases were recorded.
“The relatively lower case counts today is due to lower laboratory output last Sunday, October 3,” the DOH said, adding that seven laboratories did not submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last October 3.
Overall, the total number of infections in the country rose to 2,613,070 while the toll from the deadly virus remained at 38,828 for a case fatality rate of 1.49.
There were 103,077 active cases, with 78.8 percent mild cases, 11.4 percent asymptomatic cases, 5.6 percent moderate cases, 2.9 percent severe cases, and 1.2 percent critical cases.
The DOH also reported 12,134 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 2,471,165.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reported 40 new COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos and two more fatalities the previous week.
The new cases brought to 23,317 the total number of overseas Filipinos who have been infected by the virus while the death toll climbed to 1,389.
There were also 87 new recoveries, bringing the number of survivors to 13,552. The DFA said 8,376 patients are still undergoing treatment.
The Nueva Ecija provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said 2,280 or 81.4 percent of the 2,800 residents currently infected with COVID-19 are in home quarantine.
This was disclosed by provincial IATF spokesman Fr. Arnold Abelardo, who urged city and town mayors in the province to improve efforts to bring the patients to quarantine facilities. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
