THE Department of Health (DOH) today recorded a total of 582 new COVID-19 infections, more than double of yesterday’s 289 count, according to the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin issued today, December 17, 2021.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 2,837,464 cases.
Active cases, on the other hand, registered an 10,167 count today, slightly higher than yesterday’s 10,095. Active cases are patients undergoing treatment in government hospitals and temporary quarantine facilities.
Recoveries from COVID-19 today, meanwhile, went up to 494 cases from yesterday’s 380 count. Overall, COVID-19 recoveries in the country have reached a total of 2,776,727 cases.
As for COVID-19 fatalities, it went slightly up to 74 from yesterday’s 47 to bring the total COVID-19 deaths to 50,570.
Positivity rate today, meanwhile, was at 1.0 percent based on 33,545 people who were tested.
Around 44.8 percent of the cases were mild and asymptomatic, the DOH bulletin noted.
A total of eight duplicates were removed from the total case count, wherein the eight were recoveries.
Also, about 126 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count, where 125 were recoveries.
However, 59 cases earlier tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths upon final validation.
Four laboratories were not operational on December 15, 2021 while one laboratory was not able to submit its data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). Based on data in the last 14 days, the five laboratories contribute, on average, 0.1 percent of samples tested and 0.2 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.