The Department of Health (DOH) has noted a decrease in the number of cases reported Monday, at 959 new cases, bringing the country’s total to 478,761.
The health department said this is due to a decrease in the number of patients seen in COVID-19 laboratories during the New Year.
Of the overall nationwide count, 21, 219 are active cases or those who are undergoing treatment or quarantined. Of these, 81.7 percent have mild symptoms, 7.9 percent are asymptomatic, 6.4 percent are in critical condition, 3.4 percent have severe symptoms, while 0.57 percent are moderate.
Quezon City logged the most number of new cases with 73, followed by Davao City with 70, Rizal with 58, Agusan Del Sur with 44, and Laguna with 41.
The DOH likewise reported that 26 patients have recovered from the virus which brings the total number of recoveries to 448,279. However, 6 more people died, bringing the total death count to 9,263.
But the DOH reminds the public to be cautious in interpreting these numbers as an increase in cases in the coming weeks is still possible.
It said that it will continue to assess the extent of the effects of the holiday season on COVID-19 transmission and is also asking the public to be vigilant in guarding against complacency in the fight against COVID-19.
Meanwhile, three laboratories were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System (CDRS) on January 3, 2021.
During Monday's virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has already suspended a laboratory for repeatedly failing to submit its COVID-19 test results on time, with four more laboratories also facing possible suspension for the same reason.
“We have been serving warning against laboratories which are not compliant,” she said.
The delays in the transmission of results usually affects the number of confirmed cases reported to the public.