The Department of Health (DoH) announced Saturday that over 2,000 more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, bringing the country’s case load to more than 65,000.
The DoH said that 2,357 new persons have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The nationwide tally now stands at 65,304 as of 4 p.m. Saturday with total active cases at 41,464 and most of the new cases were from Metro Manila at 1,824.
The number of recoveries further increased to 22,067 with 321 new survivors. The death toll rose to 1,773 after 113 more patients succumbed to the respiratory illness.
Of the newly reported deaths, 40 happened this month, 58 in June, and 15 in May, the DoH said.
The rise in the number of COVID-19 cases were attributed to “expanded testing, evidence of community transmission, mobility of the population, and compliance to health standards,” the DoH said.
The country's testing laboratories can now perform an average of more than 25,000 tests daily. As of July 16, the 87 accredited COVID-19 laboratories have conducted a total of 1,089,603 tests, DoH data showed.
Meanwhile, 3,805 healthcare workers tested positive for COVID-19 as of July 16. The DoH said that 3,093 have recovered while 35 died.
The Alliance of Healthcare Workers (AHW) expressed concern on the increasing number of infected medical workers.
“Before, we used to take care of our patients. But now, it hurts to think that we are taking care of our fellow health workers. And what’s even more depressing is when the day comes that even in our ranks there is no one to take care of because everyone is sick already,” the AHW said.
The AHW said that the growing number of infected health workers is still due to “lack of PPE (personal protective equipment), non-implementation of free mandatory regular testing to health workers, working long hours, and lack of manpower.”
“Now more than ever, the DoH and the Duterte administration should listen, protect health workers, and increase (the) health budget,” it said.
“Improve the public hospitals facilities and provide enough medical supplies to enhance its capacity in rendering quality health care, for these are the key factors to contain the spread of the virulent disease and to make patients get well and lessen casualties,” it added.