THE Department of Health (DOH) logged another record low for the year with only 1,019 new COVID-19 afflictions, based on the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin issued today, February 22, 2022.
However, the DOH attributes the lower reported numbers and positivity rate today due to Sunday laboratory outputs, which traditionally is the lowest per week.
Overall, the number of COVID-19 infections in the country now stands at 3,654,284 cases.
Active cases dropped further to 56,668 cases today compared to yesterday’s 58,657. Active cases are patients undergoing treatment in government hospitals and temporary quarantine facilities.
Recoveries from COVID-19 today, however, dropped slightly to 2,988 cases from yesterday’s 3,269 count, pushing overall COVID-19 recoveries in the country to 3,541,840 cases.
The number of deaths today, meanwhile, dropped to only 13 from yesterday’s 79, bringing the number of total COVID-19 deaths to 55,776.
Positivity rate today, meanwhile, was lower at 6.4 percent from yesterday’s 7.5 percent and with 18,177 people tested.
Also, 91.9 percent of the cases were mild and asymptomatic, the DOH bulletin noted.
A total of 260 duplicates were removed from the total case count, of which 240 were recoveries.
There was also one case found to have tested negative and was removed from the total case count. The case is a recovery.
Also, 13 cases tagged earlier as recoveries were reclassified as deaths upon final validation.
All laboratories were operational on February 20, 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, 1.5 percent of samples tested and 0.7 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.