Active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines hit record high at 193,476

Funeral workers wearing personal protective equipment carry the remains of a person to Baesa crematorium in Quezon City on April 15, 2021. The crematorium caters to indigents from Quezon City, patients who died from COVID-19 and persons under investigation or persons who died from respiratory complications.
The STAR/Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — (Updated 4:16 p.m.) The Philippines on Friday recorded 10,726 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 914,971.

  • Active cases: 193,476 or 21.1% of the total
  • Recoveries: 650, pushing total to 707,757
  • Deaths: 145, bringing total to 15,738

What's new today?

  • Today saw the highest ever recorded number of active coronavirus cases — breaking the previous all-time high of 190,245 just six days after it was set.

  • There are now enough COVID-19 patients in the country to fill the Philippine arena — the largest indoor arena in the world — thrice over.

  • This is also the second day in a row that the Philippines recorded over 10,000 cases, a streak that the OCTA Research Group previously warned would lead to some 200 deaths daily.

  • The Philippines has extended its ban on the entry of most foreign nationals until the end of the month. 

  • The government’s pandemic task force approved the list of sectors included in the fourth priority group or A4—economic frontliners in essential services—for COVID-19 vaccination. The list now includes frontliners in the private and government news media, frontline personnel in basic education, and other government workers.

  • Litigant lawyers have also been added to the A4 category, according to Malacañang. 

  • Opening windows and ventilating spaces should be at the heart of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a group of experts said Thursday, arguing that confusion over airborne transmission meant this simple measure was being overlooked. 

  • Health officials said more evidence is needed to determine if a third COVID-19 vaccine dose is necessary to protect people against COVID-19.

  • Local regulators approved another private hospital's application for the “compassionate use” of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat COVID-19. 

  • Interior Secretary Eduardo Año returned to work after a three-month absence to fully recover from COVID-19. 

— Bella Perez-Rubio with a report from Xave Gregorio

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