COVID-19 cases in PH now at 309,303

Cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines rose to 309,303 after 2,025 new confirmed cases were recorded Tuesday, the Department of Health said.

A total of 290 recovered patients were reported, taking the recoveries nationwide to 252,930. There are also 68 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 5,448.

Active cases are now at 50,925. According to the DOH, 81 percent of the new reported cases or 1,641 occurred within the recent 14 days (September 16 to September 29).

The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital Region (NCR) with 540 or 33 percent, Region 4A with 296 or 18 percent and Region 3 with 239 or 15 percent.

Forty-nine of the reported fatalities or 72 percent happened in September while 12 in August; two in May; and one in April.

The department said the deaths were from NCR with 26 or 38 percent; Region 6 with 13; Region 4A with 7; Region 3 with 6; Region 5 with 3; Region 9 with 3; Regions 7, 10, 12, 4B with two deaths each; and Regions 11 and BARMM with one fatality apiece.

“Ten duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, four recovered cases and a death have been removed. Moreover, 21 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified to deaths after final validation,” the Health department said.

Meanwhile, latest data showed that of the total active cases, 86.5 percent are mild cases, 8.8 percent are asymptomatic, 1.4 percent are severe cases, and 3.3 percent are in critical condition.

It was also reported that 47 percent of the total intensive care unit beds dedicated for COVID-19 cases in the country are used, while 41 percent of isolation beds, 45 percent of ward beds, and 24 percent ventilators are being utilized.