
The Philippines saw 32,246 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, its second highest single-day spike.
The latest case update of the Department of Health (DOH) showed that there are 208,164 active cases nationwide or 6.8 percent of the country's total number of confirmed cases since last year— which stood at 3,058,634.
It was on Jan. 10 that the Philippines registered its biggest number of new cases in just one day, where 33,169 infections were recorded.
Out of the active cases, 197,091 patients have mild symptoms, 6,435 are asymptomatic, 2,872 are in moderate condition, 1,468 are severe, and 298 are critically ill.
The regions with the most cases in the recent two weeks remain unchanged---the National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.
The death toll jumped to 52,654 with 144 new fatalities. Meanwhile, the recovery count increased by 5,063 to 2,797,816.
Current NCR Alert Level adequate so far
An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) believes that the Alert Level 3 in NCR is sufficient for now despite the rising number of cases.
“Well we are looking closely at the current Alert Level 3, and as I mentioned earlier, we are seeing a significant reduction in mobility and if yesterday’s reduction in number is an indication maybe the current alert levels are adequate,” said WHO Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe in a public briefing on Wednesday.
“We are very conscious that we will need to increase those alert levels and increase the restrictions only if we see signs of the healthcare system being overwhelmed. Right now, we don’t see that,” he added.
Abeyasinghe reiterated the importance of following the health protocols.
“We are very careful in saying we need to restrict movements more, what is important is at individual level everybody following the minimum public health standards and isolating or quarantining themselves if they have symptoms or exposure so that we reduce the risk of transmission and reduce the need for stricter quarantine because that have very serious economic consequences,” he said.
“We need to try to take that best approach and try to keep the economy open unless we are seeing signs that the current alert levels are not working,” he added.