The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday, Oct. 16, a total of 1,252 new cases of Covid-19 in the country.

The DOH said that these cases, reported from Oct. 9 to Oct. 15, showed one percent "decrease" --- with an average daily count of 179 cases --- compared to the previous week from Oct. 2 to 8.
Based on the latest data available, 20 of the newly reported cases have been classified as "severe or critical."
The DOH stated that there have been 12 deaths recorded; five occurred between Oct. 2 and Oct. 15.
Moreover, as of Oct. 15, the Health Department reported that hospitals across the country had admitted a total of 231 severe and critical Covid-19 patients for treatment.
Among the 1,464 ICU beds that the DOH designated for Covid-19 patients, 189 of them, equivalent to 12.9 percent, were currently occupied.
The DOH also stated that 2,142 out of 12,642 non-ICU Covid-19 beds, constituting 16.9 percent, were in use.
Related to this, the DOH reminded the public to avoid becoming complacent in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 threat.
It stressed the importance of complying with public health standards, such as mask-wearing, seeking well-ventilated areas, and immediate isolation if symptomatic under Alert Level 1.
The agency emphasized that vigilance and strict safety measures are essential in combating the spread of Covid-19 in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, it reported that approximately 78 million people in the country had received Covid-19 vaccinations, exceeding the target population by 100.44 percent. (Zekinah Elize Espina)