The Philippines recorded less than 1,000 new cases of coronavirus disease for the third day in a row.
The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Saturday, Nov. 27, another 899 new COVID-19 infections, pushing the country's cumulative total to 2,831,177.
Of the total, only 0.6 percent or 17,052 remain active. Of the ill patients, 49 percent have mild symptoms, 22.77 percent are in moderate condition, 15 percent have severe symptoms, 6.3 percent are in critical condition, and 6.9 percent are asymptomatic.
The Health department also said 188 more people have died due to COVID-19, raising the total number of fatalities to 48,205.
Meanwhile, the recovery count increased to 2,765,920 after 1,667 new patients were able to defeat the viral disease.
Amid the threat of the new coronavirus variant omicron, which was first identified in South Africa, the DOH reminded the public to strictly follow the health and safety protocols.
“Lahat po tayo mayroon pong responsibilidad as a community, as a Filipino people sa pagsugpo sa mga ganito pong problema natin (We all have a responsibility as a community, as a Filipino to combat such problem),” said DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Ho in a public briefing.
“Kung ayaw natin na magulantang tayo dito (If we don't want to be caught surprise), we have to follow these protocols and we also need to make people understand na ito ay mga mahahalaga (that this is important). At the same time, hindi po tayo dapat (we should not be complacent),” she added.
Ho expressed hope that omicron will not have the same characteristics that of the Delta variant.
“And we’re also hoping that our vaccine and minimum public health standards will really help protect us and make us much, much better and much more equipped once this variant reaches us,” she said.