Philippines says 17,000 more people infected
The Philippines听reported听17,447听coronavirus infections on Friday听鈥斕齮he second-highest daily tally since the pandemic started听last year 鈥斕齛mid a fresh surge spurred by a more contagious Delta variant, according to the Department of Health (DoH).听
This brought the total to听1.91听million, while听deaths听rose听to听32,841听after听113听more听patients听died,听it said in a bulletin. Recoveries听increased听by听6,771听to听1.74听million,听it added.听
The听percentage of people who tested positive for the virus had also risen to a record 26.1%.听
There听were听142,531听active听cases,听96.2%听of听which听were听mild,听1.1%听did not show symptoms,听1.1%听were听severe,听0.96%听were听moderate听and听0.6%听were听critical.听
DoH听said听186听duplicates听had听been听removed听from听the听tally,听186听of听which听were听tagged听as听recoveries, while听47听recoveries听were听reclassified听as听deaths.听One听laboratory听failed听to听submit听data听on听Aug.听25.听
The听agency on Thursday said infections were likely to rise in the coming weeks despite a two-week strict lockdown imposed in the capital region that ended on Aug. 20.听
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center听will expand operations in the Visayas and Mindanao after it was given P295.7 million听this year听to strengthen the country’s monitoring of infectious diseases.听
鈥淥ur听regional听offices听are听having听a听hard听time听sending听samples听here听in听Manila听due听to听challenges听in听logistics,鈥澨鼿ealth听spokesperson听Maria听Rosario听C.听Singh-Vergeire听told an听online听news听briefing.听
鈥淏y strengthening the country鈥檚 biosurveillance capacity, we hope to prevent future outbreaks of diseases in the Philippines,鈥 Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a听separate statement.听鈥 Bianca Angelica D. A帽ago听
