6,600 new COVID cases, 196 more deaths — DoH

The Department of Health reported 6,686 new coronavirus infections nationwide on Friday, bringing the total number of cases since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year to 1,300,349. 

The death toll rose by 196 to 22,507, while recoveries increased by 3,190 to 1,216,497, it said in a bulletin. 

There were 61,345 active cases, 91.6% of which were mild, 4.3% did not show symptoms, 1.15% were moderate, 1.7% were severe, and 1.2% were critical. 

The agency said 24 duplicates had been removed from the tally. Of these, 20 recovered.  

It said that 127 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths. About 1,000 cases previously classified as recoveries were re-tagged as active cases, it added. 

Three labs failed to submit data.  

About 13.9 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of June 9, according to the health department’s tracker website. 

Meanwhile, a group of researchers said the number of coronavirus infections in Metro Manila went down by 17% from June 4 to 10. 

Infections in the capital region decreased to 926 daily in the last seven days from the 1,116 recorded from the previous week, OCTA said in its latest report. 

OCTA said the reproduction number in the region over the same week was 0.72, while the average daily attack rate was at 6.7, suggesting that the risk level in the key economic hub is “moderate.” The reproduction rate or R0 is a measure of a virus’ transmission, or the number of new infections generated by each case. 

OCTA said the positivity rate in the region decreased to 8%, while the hospital care use rate went down to 36%. The occupancy rate for intensive care unit beds was at 49%. 

The government had placed Metro Manila and nearby provinces under strict lockdowns from March to mid-May due to a surge in coronavirus infections. The restrictions have since been eased. 

Philippine authorities earlier said the southern and central parts of the Philippines were experiencing a surge in coronavirus infections. 

OCTA said the rise in infections in Mindanao slowed down in the last seven days.  

It said Davao City had a slight decrease in cases. It added that the Mindanao metropolis’ hospital bed occupancy was below 60%, a safe level. 

OCTA said the trends in Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga City continued to move downward, “but Cagayan de Oro continued to have high hospital occupancy rates.” 

Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo City, Dumaguete, Butuan, Tuguegarao, Cotabato City, and Tacloban are still “areas of concern,” it said. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza