FROM yesterday’s 2,196 cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said that new COVID-19 infections was pushed slightly up to 2,232 new cases based on the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin issued today, February 18, 2022.
Overall, the number of COVID-19 infections in the country now stands at 3,648,925 cases.
Active cases slid slightly downward to only 65,796 cases today compared to yesterday’s 66,588. Active cases are patients undergoing treatment in government hospitals and temporary quarantine facilities.
Recoveries from COVID-19 today, however, was pushed down further to 3,010 cases from yesterday’s 4,409 count, pushing overall COVID-19 recoveries in the country to 3,527,720 cases.
In terms of deaths, a total of 79 died today from COVID-19, bringing the overall number of deaths to 55,409 fatalities.
Positivity rate today, meanwhile, was slightly lower at 9.1 percent from yesterday’s 9.7 percent and with 29,812 people tested.
Also, 93.0 percent of the cases were mild and asymptomatic, the DOH bulletin noted.
A total of 100 duplicates were removed from the total case count, of which 95 were recoveries.
Also, 70 cases tagged earlier as recoveries were reclassified as deaths upon final validation.
All laboratories were operational on February 16, 2022, but five laboratories were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). According to data in the last 14 days, the five laboratories contributed, on average, 1.0 percent of samples tested and 0.9 percent of positive individuals.
The agency continues to remind the public not to become complacent 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 when in medical facilities, maintain physical distancing and frequently wash hands. At the onset of symptoms, immediately isolate and undergo testing. Remember to be tested at the right time, and to be vaccinated in order to receive added protection against COVID-19.