For the first time in seven months, only two fatalities from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were recorded on Monday, Feb. 15, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
The last time the country logged only two deaths was on July 21, 2020.
The two fatalities increased the COVID-19 death toll in the country to 11,517.
DOH said there were 1,685 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases, pushing the nationwide count to 550,860
The case bulletin showed that 14 patients recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 511,755.
Of the total number of COVID-19 cases, 27,588 were still active cases.
According to DOH, one duplicate was removed from the total case count.
DOH said six laboratories were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System (CDRS) on Feb. 14, 2021.
Meanwhile, the DOH said one of the 19 patients found to be infected with the new United Kingdom variant that were reported last week was linked to the recent clustering of COVID-19 cases at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) compound.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the 46-year-old female from Pasay was found to be the mother of one of the infected MRT worker reported last week.
"She was found positive on January 25 and is undergoing home quarantine," she said in a virtual forum.
Last week, the DOH reported 19 new UK variant cases in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 44. Details of the six cases were unknown then.
"Of the six individuals, five were already verified. One is a 20 year-old female residing in Mt. Province. Positive test done during pre departure test in NCR last January 12...Returned to Mt. Province where she is currently isolated. DOH CAR investigating the case and doing tracing," she said.
Vergeire said another case was a 37-year-old male from Bukidnon.
"Case investigation showed patient spent a long time in NCR as part of his training. Positive on January 25 and is now isolated in a facility," she said.
There was also the case of a 25-year-old female residing in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Vergeire said she was tested positive last Jan. 31, and is now undergoing isolation in Central Luzon.
There was also the case of a 47-year old female residing in Las Pinas City, and was determined to be a returning Filipino from Morocco.
"Arrived in January 12. Initial swab turned positive. Second swab still positive and is advised to continue isolation at home," said Vergeire.
She said another was the case of a 49-year-old male from Rizal.
"Still trying to investigate if he is an returning overseas Filipino," said Vergeire.
Contact tracing efforts for the close contacts of the 19 new UK variant cases were still ongoing.