Metro Manila still has the most COVID-19 cases, as infections affected more than 220,000

GOOD OLE ST. PROTECTED BY NICK For your protection, owner Jo Santos has Santa wear a mask and face shield inside her Christmas figurine shop on Lacson Avenue in Manila. The radios begin playing Christmas songs on September 1. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines – On the eve of the announcement of new quarantine levels, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,446 additional coronavirus infections, bringing the national case count to more than 220,000.

Of the new cases submitted by 97 out of 110 accredited laboratories, 2,965 became ill between August 18 and 31, while 405 became ill between August 1 and 17. The national count was 220,819 cases.

Metro Manila reported the highest number of new cases, 1,900, followed by Laguna (163), Cavite (161), Leyte (155) and Pampanga (116).

The DOH reported that 165 more patients had recovered, bringing the total number of COVID-19 survivors to 157,562. The death toll, however, rose to 3,558 when 38 patients succumbed to the severe respiratory illness.

Active cases

That left 59,699 active cases, of which 91.3 percent were mild, 6.2 percent asymptomatic, 1 percent severe, and 1.5 percent critical.

Of the recently reported deaths, 31 died in August, four in July and three in June. Nineteen of the fatalities were from Metro Manila, nine from Calabarzon, four from central Visayas, two from central Luzon, two from western Visayas, and one from Ilocos and one from Zamboanga.

The Undersecretary of Health, María Rosario Vergeire, reminded citizens to deal only with accredited laboratories in case they choose to collect their samples at home.

Vergeire said that under current DOH guidelines, labs can collect patient samples remotely, as long as the healthcare worker wears protective gear and DOH is informed of the collection for proper monitoring.

“There are reports that unlicensed laboratories provide home service. We are strictly monitoring this and warn that penalties may be imposed if we discover that they are not licensed laboratories, but are offering this remote collection of samples for COVID-19. That is allowed only for authorized laboratories, ”he said.

Of the 113 accredited laboratories, 43 are located in Metro Manila.

BCG not drug COVID-19

Vergeire also said that just because there are reports of a drug or vaccine that could potentially be used against COVID-19 did not mean it should already be used.

Following reports that the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine is being studied for its potential to help people fight COVID-19, Vergeire said there was not yet enough evidence to show that it was truly effective and should be used. by the public.

“We just want to remind the public that there are many [medications] now that they are reported to be useful against COVID-19. We still need to go through the regulatory process for this, and if we ever intend to join your trials, we will provide information. But for now, there is not enough evidence to say that BCG can have this good effect for COVID-19, ”said Vergeire.

BCG, which was first used in 1921, is given to newborns to prevent tuberculosis.

A report from the Global Vaccine Alliance, or Gavi, said researchers were investigating whether receiving a dose of BCG could prevent or help people fight COVID-19 and reduce the number of deaths.

“Even if it cannot prevent people from contracting the disease, some data suggests that there is a possibility that it will be helpful in reducing the severity of the symptoms responsible for the death toll from the pandemic,” Gavi said.

In a scientific report in April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that while there was no evidence that BCG could protect people from infection, “two clinical trials addressing this question [were] on going.”

“In the absence of evidence, [the] The WHO does not recommend the BCG vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19. [The] WHO continues to recommend neonatal BCG vaccine in countries or settings with a high incidence of tuberculosis, ”said WHO.

Respiratory machines

Vergeire also said DOH was looking for suppliers of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) machines, which could be given to hospitals as an alternative to the mechanical ventilators used by COVID-19 patients with respiratory problems.

Previously, the Philippine General Hospital said it found that it was better to delay using a mechanical ventilator and instead rely on HFNC machines.

The HFNC machine is more comfortable and less traumatic as it delivers a greater flow of oxygen through the patient’s nose. With a mechanical ventilator, a tube is inserted through the patient’s throat to help them breathe.

Dr. Jonas del Rosario, a spokesperson for PGH, said that immediate intubation of a patient also increased the risk of ventilator-acquired pneumonia.

PGH has 22 HFNC machines. With those machines, Del Rosario said, the hospital had prevented at least 70 percent of its patients from being intubated.

Vergeire said the Civil Defense Office had purchased more HFNC machines for use in hospitals. However, it did not say how many machines were purchased.

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