THE Department of Health (DOH) logged 318 new COVID-19 infections today, lower than yesterday’s 433 count, according to the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin issued today, December 27, 2021.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 2,838,792 cases.
Active cases, on the other hand, registered a 9,579 count today, a bit higher than yesterday’s 9,522 cases. Active cases are patients undergoing treatment in government hospitals and temporary quarantine facilities.
Recoveries from COVID-19 today, meanwhile, went down to 255 cases from yesterday’s 283 count. Overall, COVID-19 recoveries in the country have reached a total of 2,778,002 cases.
As for COVID-19 fatalities, it went down to a low of 11 from yesterday’s 13 to bring the total COVID-19 deaths to 51,211.
Positivity rate today, meanwhile, moved up to 2.2 percent but testing was at a low of 14,237 people.
However, 42.7 percent of the cases were mild and asymptomatic, the DOH bulletin noted.
A total of five duplicates were removed from the total case count, and all five duplicates were recoveries.
Also, about 166 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count. All 166 cases were tagged as recoveries.
However, five cases tagged earlier as recoveries were reclassified as deaths upon final validation.
There were two laboratories that did not operate on December 25, 2021, while 26 laboratories failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). Among the 26 laboratories that did not submit data, 12 confirmed they were closed and non-operating on December 25, 2021 (Christmas Day). Based on data in the last 14 days, the 28 non-reporting laboratories contribute, on average, 9.5 percent of samples tested and 6.4 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.