THE Department of Health (DOH) logged 3,617 new COVID-19 infections today, still higher than yesterday’s 2,961 count, according to the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin issued today, January 1, 2022.
With this, the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country is now at 2,847,486 cases.
Active cases, on the other hand, also rose to 17,374 today, much higher than yesterday’s 14,233 cases. Active cases are patients undergoing treatment in government hospitals and temporary quarantine facilities.
Recoveries from COVID-19 today, meanwhile, slid to 468 cases from yesterday’s 481 count. Overall, COVID-19 recoveries in the country have reached a total of 2,778,567 cases.
As for COVID-19 fatalities, it went down to 43 from yesterday’s 132 to bring the total COVID-19 deaths to 51,545.
Positivity rate today, meanwhile, rose again to 14.8 percent from yesterday’s 10.3 percent while 29,239 people were tested.
However, 70.7 percent of the cases were mild and asymptomatic, the DOH bulletin noted.
A total of 15 duplicates were removed from the total case count, with seven recoveries and two deaths.
Also, about 95 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count, and all 95 cases were tagged as recoveries.
However, 41 cases tagged earlier as recoveries were reclassified as deaths upon final validation.
There were two laboratories that did not operate on December 30, 2021. There were also six laboratories that failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS). Based on data in the last 14 days, the eight laboratories contribute, on average, 0.2 percent of samples tested and 0.1 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.