THE Department of Health (DOH) today recorded a low 263 new COVID-19 infections, though still slightly higher than yesterday’s 203 count, according to the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin dated December 20, 2021.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 2,837,730 cases.
Active cases, on the other hand, registered a 9,592 count today, lower than yesterday’s 9,729. Active cases are patients undergoing treatment in government hospitals and temporary quarantine facilities.
Recoveries from COVID-19 today, meanwhile, went down to 390 cases from yesterday’s 395 count. Overall, COVID-19 recoveries in the country have reached a total of 2,777,354 cases.
As for COVID-19 fatalities, it went down to 45 from yesterday’s 64 to bring the total COVID-19 deaths to 50,784.
Positivity rate today, meanwhile, remained at 0.8 percent based on 28,438 people who were tested.
Around 42.1 percent of the cases were mild and asymptomatic, the DOH bulletin noted.
A total of five duplicates were removed from the total case count, wherein the five were all recoveries.
Also, about 105 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count, where 105 were also recoveries.
However, 35 cases earlier tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths upon final validation.
There were four laboratories that did not operate on December 18, 2021. There were also 13 laboratories that failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). Based on data in the last 14 days, the 17 laboratories contribute, on average, 7.8 percent of samples tested and 4.1 percent of positive individuals.
The agency continues to remind the public not to become complacent and continue to be vigilant against the threat of COVID-19 and make it a habit to follow the minimum public health standards and to always wear face masks, and also face shields whenever necessary, maintain physical distancing and washing of hands. The DOH also reiterates that the safety of the country is everyone’s responsibility, and that by helping each other, the country will overcome this COVID-19 pandemic.