The DOH clarified that 68 deaths were added to the count after its validation showed they were mistakenly tagged as recoveries in the previous report. It also removed five duplicate cases, including two survivors.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) — The country recorded 1,744 more COVID-19 infections, which raised the total number of cases to 555,163, the Department of Health reported on Thursday.
The department’s case bulletin noted 31,115 active or currently ill patients, equivalent to 5.6% of the COVID-19 tally. At least 85.6% have mild symptoms, 8.6% have no symptoms, 2.5% are in critical condition, 2.5% are severe cases and 0.78% are moderate infections.
The death toll hit 11,673 or 2.10% of the case count after 96 more people died from the disease. Meanwhile, 412 more cases recovered, bringing the number of survivors to 512,375 or 92.3% out of all those infected.
Data from six laboratories were not included in the tally due to failure to submit their reports on time, the DOH added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also reported a surge of cases among overseas Filipinos with 80 more catching the disease. The number of infections is now 14,759 in 87 countries. The recovery count also rose to 9,273 with 35 more survivors while the death toll climbed to 988 with nine more fatalities. The DFA said the spike was due to increase in cases in one country in Europe.
