COVID-19

PH coronavirus cases leap past 300,000

JC Gotinga

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PH coronavirus cases leap past 300,000

RT-PCR COVID-19 swab booth at the Philippine Red Cross in Mandaluyong City on Thursday, September 24, 2020.

Photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

The Department of Health reports 2,747 more cases of COVID-19, as the death toll reaches 5,284, and total recoveries reach 232,906

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines breached 300,000 on Saturday, September 26, as the government reports 2,747 more cases of the disease.

The Department of Health (DOH) said total COVID-19 cases reached 301,256 on Saturday afternoon, based on data from more than 100 accredited laboratories nationwide.

The DOH said there 63,066 active COVID-19 cases in the country. Of these, 87.3% were mild, 8.8% asymptomatic, 1.2% severe, and 2.7% were critical.

The agency reported 88 more fatalities from the disease, bringing the country’s death count to 5,284.

Meanwhile, 787 more patients have beaten the virus, bringing total recoveries to 232,906.

The bulk of the newly reported cases were from the National Capital Region, with 1,115 cases. Other areas that reported relatively high number of additional cases were:

  • Negros Occidental: 196;
  • Cavite: 153;
  • Laguna: 112;
  • Cebu: 107.

The agency said 21 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths, after “final validation.”

The DOH removed 852 “duplicates” from the total case count, of which 259 were previously reported as recovered cases.

“These numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation,” the DOH disclaimed. This means reported figures may change later on.

Of more than 120 accredited COVID-19 laboratories across the country, 3 were unable to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System (CDRS) on September 25, Friday. They were:

  • Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital;
  • The Philippine Heart Center;
  • Safeguard DNA Diagnostics.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday said the earliest that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available in the Philippines would be in April 2021. That is if clinical trials for a candidate vaccine are completed by December and January, and if “a company would file and application.”

The World Health Organization warned that COVID-19 deaths could more than double to two million without collective action against the pandemic.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday urged any country that develops a vaccine to share it with the world as a “moral responsibility.” – Rappler.com

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JC Gotinga

JC Gotinga often reports about the West Philippine Sea, the communist insurgency, and terrorism as he covers national defense and security for Rappler. He enjoys telling stories about his hometown, Pasig City. JC has worked with Al Jazeera, CNN Philippines, News5, and CBN Asia.