The country has recorded a total of 78,000 COVID-19 cases nationwide as another 2,000 more were confirmed to have been stricken by the dreaded illness Saturday.
The Department of Health (DoH) said that 2,019 people were added to the country’s case load, pushing the cumulative total to 78,412. The number of active cases is at 50,763.
The death toll increased by 20, raising the total to 1,897. However, there were 1,278 patients who recovered, bringing the nation’s recovery tally to 25,752.
“Fifty-one duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 25 recovered cases and two deaths have been removed after final validation,” the DoH noted.
“Moreover, we have updated the health status of three cases previously reported as recovered but after final validation were found to be deaths,” it added.
Metro Manila remains as the country’s COVID-19 epicenter. Majority of the reported new cases were from the National Capital Region with 1,115.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that there is a possibility that Metro Manila may revert to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine if the country hits the projection of the University of the Philippines of 85,000 cases by the end of July.
Meanwhile, the DoH launched a campaign called “BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19” last Friday that aims to further instill protective behavior during this pandemic.
BIDA Solusyon encourages the public to practice four key preventive behaviors: “Bawal walang mask, I-sanitize ang kamay at iwas-hawak sa mga bagay, Dumistansya ng isang metro, at Alamin ang totoong impormasyon.”
“The last few months have been nothing, if not challenging. But despite the uncertainties, it is clear to us at the DoH that if everyone continues to work together to build new habits, then we will overcome our current situation,” said DoH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.