The running case count of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines has crossed the three million mark on Tuesday, Jan. 11, as the country continues to experience a rapid rise in infections.
Since the pandemic started in 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) has already confirmed a total of 3,026,473 COVID-19 cases. It was on Sept. 1, 2021 that the Philippines hit the two million mark, while the case tally reached one million last April 26, 2021.
There were 28,007 new coronavirus infections recorded on Tuesday. The DOH noted that the regions with the most number of cases within the last 14 days remain the same: the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.
It was noted that six percent of the case total or 181,016 patients are still undergoing treatment. Among the active cases, 170,873 are tagged as mild, 5,521 have no symptoms, 2,863 are moderate, 1,464 are severe, and 295 are critical.
93 percent of COVID-19 deaths unvaccinated, partially vaccinated
Meanwhile, 219 new deaths were logged. These brought the death toll to 52,511 or 1.74 percent of the total case count.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said more than 90 percent of people who died due to COVID-19 were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
“We found that based on our hospital data–almost 85 percent of those admitted are not vaccinated, and almost 93 percent of those who died from COVID-19 ay hindi bakunado o kaya ay partially vaccinated lang (were not vaccinated or were only partially vaccinated),” said Vergeire in a press briefing.
The DOH official noted that this data was as of Dec. 28, 2021. “We are still trying to finalize our most recent data but still the trends look the same,” she said.
On the other hand, the recovery count reached 2,792,946 after 4,471 more survivors were confirmed on Tuesday.
Healthcare utilization rate
The country's healthcare utilization rate remains under low risk classification despite the surge in cases, said Vergeire.
“Despite case increases, the national healthcare utilization remains to be at low risk. We have 40 percent for our ward beds, while for ICU utilization— it’s at 38 percent,” she said.
However, the healthcare utilization rate for Metro Manila is already nearing the moderate-risk category, said Vergeire.
“Some of the regions like NCR, the utilization for ward beds is nearing the moderate threshold. But still, hindi pa rin po iyan nakakabahala (it’s not yet alarming) compared when we were having the Delta experience,” she said.
Vergeire emphasized the importance of self-isolation and testing when experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
“At the earliest sign of symptoms, always remember to isolate, isolate, and isolate. We must help in preventing further virus transmission and mutation so that you and your loved ones are kept safe,” she said.
“If we get the right test at the right time, early detection can guide the right actions in doing our part to prevent the spread of the virus. Let’s not be agents of transmission,” she added.