COVID-19 cases in the Philippines increased to 420,614 after 1,799 new infections were reported Monday, the Department of Health said.
A total of 135 newly recovered patients were recorded, bringing the national recovery count to 386,604. There are also 50 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 8,173.
Cavite has the highest number of new cases with 154 followed by Rizal with 114, Quezon City with 99, Bulacan with 76, and Laguna with 67.
There are 25,837 active cases – 83.5 percent mild, 7.8 percent asymptomatic, 5.5 percent in critical condition, and 2.9 percent severe.
According to the Health department, cases of the disease in the country continue to “plateau” with less than 2,000 new confirmed cases per day.
“In general, nakikita natin ang ating mga kaso patuloy naman ang pag-plateau sa less than 2,000 cases per day. Nakikita natin ‘yan, so ‘yong critical care utilization natin nasa moderate risk tayo – almost 50 or 53 percent (In general, we are seeing that cases are plateauing with less than 2,000 cases per day. So, our critical care utilization is at moderate risk – almost 50 or 53 percent),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“In general, we can see this as a good indication for us. Nakakaagapay tayo (We are coping up),” Vergeire said.
As of Nov. 23, 56 percent of the total Intensive Care Unit beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients in the country are available while 62 percent of isolation beds are unoccupied, 71 percent ward beds are also not occupied, and 81 percent of ventilators are available.
The department, however, said that they are currently monitoring Davao City as its critical care utilization “is nearing the danger zone.”
“We are setting up the one hospital command in that area so that we can have this network of hospitals both private and public, national and local, to ease or decongest the hospitals,” Vergeire said.
Vergeire added that heads of concerned agencies will hold a meeting with Davao City officials on the reported surge of critical care utilization.
The Health department is also monitoring Cebu City for its increasing cases.
“Altough their critical care utilization is not high, gusto pa rin maimbestigahan bakit ang kaso ay biglang tumataas sa lugar na ito (we still want to look into the sudden rise of cases in this area),” Vergeire said.
“But in the general terms for the whole country, the trend is plateauing less than 2,000 and critical care utilization is at moderate risk,” the Health Undersecretary added.