The Department of Health (DoH) reported that the Philippines recorded 2,386 new COVID-19 cases in the past week. Out of the new cases, 17 patients were in severe or critical condition.
The daily average of cases increased by 23% to 341 from the previous week. As of April 16, 91% of the total COVID-19 admissions, or 356 patients were in severe and critical condition. DoH revealed that 12.3% or 234 of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients were occupied, while 17.4% or non-ICU beds had been used.
Moreover, health authorities verified 20 more coronavirus deaths in the past week, which occurred as late as January 2021. The country currently has 8,611 active COVID-19 cases, with a total of more than 4 million cases since the pandemic began in 2020. The death toll stood at 66,439.
As of March 16, more than 78.4 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Of these, 23.8 million had received their first booster dose, while almost 4.4 million had gotten their second booster shots.
The Philippines, like other countries around the world, has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020.
In response to the pandemic, the Philippine government imposed strict measures such as community quarantine, border closures, and curfews. The country also implemented an aggressive vaccination program to protect its citizens from the virus.
However, despite these measures, the number of cases and deaths has continued to rise, and the healthcare system has been struggling to cope with the surge. The government has been ramping up efforts to address the situation, including increasing hospital capacity, hiring more healthcare workers, and improving contact tracing.
The rise in COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over.
The public is urged to continue practicing safety measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus. The government also encourages citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and their loved ones from the disease.
