Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) — The number of coronavirus cases in the country has now reached 12,942, with the Department of Health reporting 224 new infections on Tuesday.
The DOH also confirmed 114 more COVID-19 survivors, raising the total number of recoveries to 2,843. Six more died, however, with the death toll now at 837.
In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, epidemiologist Dr. John Wong said the country has hit a plateau of about 220 coronavirus cases a day after the enhanced community quarantine was implemented. He compared this to an average of 538 cases daily before the lockdown restrictions were put in place.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said in the hearing that the DOH has seen the flattening of the Philippines’ COVID-19 curve beginning mid-April.
Nearly 80 percent of the new infections have been recorded in Metro Manila, which has relaxed its lockdown restrictions starting May 16 under modified enhanced community quarantine.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Gene Solante warned CNN Philippines on Monday that should Filipinos begin to act more complacent when it comes to health measures amid easing of restrictions, the country may see a spike in coronavirus cases in two weeks.
While the Philippines has reportedly seen a slowing in the rate of infection, it also still lags behind other Asian countries in terms of COVID-19 testing capacity.
Only 0.2 percent of the country’s nearly 110 million population has been tested for the disease so far, said COVID-19 response deputy chief implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the government is targeting to test for coronavirus 1.5 to 2 percent of the country’s population. He added it would be “physically impossible” to test millions of residents.
Globally, over 4.8 million people have been infected with the viral disease, with more than 318,000 deaths and nearly 1.8 million recoveries.
Among Filipinos abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed 26 new infections, 21 more recoveries, and one more death.
These updates bring the total numbers to 2,431 confirmed cases, 849 recoveries, and 280 deaths among Filipinos overseas.
Continuing to log the highest number of infections among overseas Filipinos are Europe with 736 cases and the Middle East/Africa with 705. Some 543 have been recorded in the Americas, while 447 have been registered in the Asia Pacific.
Only one additional healthcare worker has contracted the virus while 36 more have recovered, according to the department. There are now a total of 2,314 medical frontliners who have been infected and 974 who have recovered. Meanwhile, the number of fatalities among their ranks remain at 35.
Sarangani province also recorded its first case of the viral disease—a 70-year-old male from Maitum town. The number of coronavirus-free provinces in the country is now down to 19.
