Philippine coronavirus count surpasses 375,000

MANILA – Confirmed coronavirus infections in the Philippines surpassed the 375,000 mark on Wednesday, as the Department of Health (DOH) recorded an additional 2,053 cases.

According to its latest bulletin, the DOH said the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 375,180, of which 38,955, or 10.4 percent, are active.

Wednesday’s new cases do not include data from 11 labs that did not submit their results on time, the DOH said.

Of the recently announced infections, 108 are from Caloocan City, 103 are from Quezon City, 97 are from Negros Occidental, 93 are from Benguet, and 85 are from Rizal.

The DOH reported an additional 540 recovered patients and 61 new COVID-related deaths.

Total recoveries amounted to 329,111, while the death toll stood at 7,114.

The DOH said that of the 24,970 people who were tested Tuesday, 1,673, or 6.7 percent, tested positive for COVID-19.

BENGUET

This is the second day in a row Benguet has been included in the top 5 provinces and cities with the most new COVID-19 cases.

Reports recently showed that several mining sites in Benguet saw an increase in COVID-19 cases, resulting in the stoppage of some mining operations.

Undersecretary of Health María Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday that while the same health protocols are suggested for mining sites, there is an increased risk due to the enclosed spaces and the possible large number of workers there.

DOH will investigate the cause of the increase in cases at the sites, he said.

The OCTA Research Group, made up of professors from the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas, estimates that COVID-19 cases in the Philippines will reach 380,000 to 410,000 by the end of this month.