The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines soared to 421,722 after the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 1,118 additional cases on Tuesday. 

As this developed, the DOH also encouraged the public to consider resorting to virtual activities during this holiday season to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. 

The DOH also recorded 196 new recoveries and 12 more deaths, raising the total tally respectively to 386,792 and 8,185. 

Caloocan City logged the highest number of new cases with 89, followed by Davao City with 52, Laguna with 52, Quezon province with 47, and Quezon City with 46. 

The country’s number of active cases is currently at  26,745, of this, 83.7 percent are mild, 7.9 percent are asymptomatic, 5.3 percent are critical, 2.8 percent are severe, and 0.25 percent are moderate.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded the public on Tuesday that “enjoying the remaining days of the year COVID-free would be the greatest blessing.”

“In celebration of Christmas and New Year, the DOH recommends getting together exclusively with household members and virtual gathering with those not residing in the same house as most infections are made through close contact and prolonged exposure,” said Vergeire in a statement. 

Exploring congested areas, close-contact settings, and confined places are the three risk factors that pose a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, she said. 

“The threat of the virus is even higher when these factors overlap. Examples of the three risk factors include: attending large family, social, or religious gatherings; in-person shopping in malls and bazaars; and indoor gathering of a large group of people that involves singing, shouting and dancing,” said Vergeire. 

“Reduce your risk during the holiday season by strictly complying with the minimum public health standards in all our activities,”  she added.