The Philippines today, July 11, posted its highest single-day tally of recoveries from coronavirus disease (COVID-19), while the number of cases crossed the 54,000-mark.
There were 807 new recoveries reported on Saturday, raising the total of recoveries from the dreaded illness to 14,037. This topped the previous record of 489 recoveries reported last July 5.
The Department of Health (DOH) attributed this high-number of recoveries to the continuous validation of cases.
“This coming Monday, meron po tayong pagtaas ng recoveries ito po ay dahil tuloy-tuloy for the last months natin kausap ang ating mga local government units at marami na po sa kanila ang nakapag-submit ng data sa atin ,” said Dr. Beverly Ho, DOH director for Health Promotion and Communication Service.
The DOH announced that the nation’s case load is now at 54,222 as 1,387 more individuals were confirmed to have contracted the respiratory illness.
Twelve new fatalities were reported, bringing the death toll to 1,372.
The Philippines ranked second with the most number of cases among the 10-member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Indonesia topped the list with 72,347 confirmed cases as of July 10.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, meanwhile, said that the virus causing COVID-19 can be transmitted through air particles in "specific settings."
"Ang WHO (World Health Organization) nagpalabas din and even our experts are saying it can be airborne in specific settings," said Vergeire.
Vergeire said that it may be possible in hospitals because there are "aerosol producing equipment" in such facilities and other closed-setting areas.
“Kaya tayo ay nagkakaroon ng rekomendasyon na sana sa pagbubukas ng ibang sector katulad ng mga restaurants, it should be in open air para hindi tayo nagkakaroon ng mga ganitong instances ,” she said.
The agency reminded the public again to wear masks and practice protocols under the minimum health standards to reduce the transmission of the virus.
“Become part of the solution by staying vigilant and following the prescribed health protocols. “Let us not be complacent. Instead, we will continue to be responsible,” the DOH said.