The DOH also said six more healthcare workers caught the virus with the total number of infected medical frontliners rising to 2,336. Most of them are nurses, physicians, nursing assistants and technologists. A total of 1,086 have recovered with 37 new survivors while the death toll is still at 31, the agency added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) — The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has reached 13,597 after 163 more contracted the viral illness, the Department of Health reported Friday.
The agency said 3,092 in total recovered, with 92 additional survivors while the death toll rose to 857 after 11 more died.
From the number of new cases, DOH said 91 or 56 percent were from Metro Manila, 56 or 34 percent were from Central Visayas and the remaining 16 or 10 percent were scattered in different areas. Some 9,648 from the nationwide total are active cases or patients currently experiencing the illness, the department added.
The DOH said the country is still on its “first wave” of COVID-19 cases, clarifying Health Secretary Francisco Duque’s earlier statement that the second wave had already begun.
But the agency maintained that the curve has “started to flatten” since the daily count of cases has been declining from its peak of 538 cases in a day on March 31.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that 43 more Filipinos abroad tested positive for COVID-19 bringing the total of infected overseas Filipinos to 2,504. Some 866 recovered with five new survivors from the Americas, Asia and the Pacific and Middle East. However, two more died from the Middle East, bringing the death toll to 287.
From the total number of COVID-19-positive Filipinos abroad, only 554 were verified by the Health Department, DFA said.
The DOH also listed 97 confirmed cases among foreign nationals who are in the country. It said there were 32 Chinese, 13 Americans, five Japanese, four Taiwanese, four Indians and 39 other nationalities who have COVID-19.
