PH COVID-19 cases rise to 78,412 as DOH reports 2,019 new infections

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,019 new cases of disease (COVID-19) yesterday, raising the country’s total infections to 78,412. Of the number of infections, 50,763 are active cases, the DOH said.

It also reported 20 more deaths, raising the total to 1,897.

A total of 1,278 patients got well, bringing the tally of recoveries to 25,752.

“Fifty-one duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 25 recovered cases and two deaths have been removed after final validation,” the DOH noted.

“Moreover, we have updated the health status of three cases previously reported as recovered but after final validation were found to be deaths,” it added.

Majority of the reported new cases or 1,115 came from Metro Manila, which remains as the country’s COVID-19 epicenter.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that there’s a possibility that Metro Manila may revert to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine if the country hits the projection of the University of the Philippines of 85,000 cases by the end of July.

In a related development, the DOH launched on Friday a campaign called “BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19” that aims to further instill protective behavior during this pandemic.

BIDA Solusyon encourages the public to practice four key preventive behaviors:

1. Bawal walang mask

2. I-sanitize ang kamay at iwashawak

sa mga bagay

3. Dumistansya ng isang metro

4. Alamin ang totoong impormasyon.

“The last few months have been nothing, if not challenging. But despite the uncertainties, it is clear to us at the DOH that if everyone continues to work together to build new habits, then we will overcome our current situation,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.