MANILA, Philippines Updated 4:31 p.m.) — The Department of Health on Sunday afternoon reported 1,949 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, bringing the number of total cases to 513,619.
Of the total, 27,765 or 5.4% are still classified as active cases, or patients who have neither recovered nor passed away and are recovering in hospitals or quarantine facilities.
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DOH in its latest case bulletin also reported 53 new deaths, bringing the pathogen's death toll in the country to 10,242.
A total of 475,612 have so far recovered—good for a 92.6% recovery rate—after the DOH also added 7,729 recoveries in Sunday's update.
Where most cases were reported
- Davao City (GCQ): 99 new cases
- Quezon City (GCQ): 98 new cases
- Cavite (MGCQ): 74 new cases
- Baguio City (MGCQ): 73 new cases
- Leyte (MGCQ): 63 new cases
"Proper wearing of face masks and full-coverage face shields, the continued observation of physical distancing and hand washing and sanitizing are sure ways to avoid the spread of the UK variant or any other COVID-19 variant in the country," the DOH said for its message of the day.
What's new today?
- The DOH at a press briefing Saturday disclosed that the new variant of the coronavirus may have been in the Philippines as early as December 10.
- While experts say it is premature to suggest the mutation first discovered in the United Kingdom is deadlier, evidence suggests it is more transmissible.
- At least 16 cases of the new coronavirus variant have already been recorded in the country.
- On Saturday, the health department recorded 1,797 COVID-19 infections.
- Malacañang has announced that travelers coming in from countries with confirmed cases of the more transmissible COVID-19 variants will be required to take a second test.
- Administration officials continue to defend the government's choice to purchase China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. vaccine for its national inoculation program amid mounting concerns about the vaccine’s price and efficacy.
— Franco Luna with a report from Xave Gregorio