The Department of Health (DOH) reported 169 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, Oct. 20, bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines to 4,118,381.

However, the department’s Covid-19 tracker showed no additional Covid-19-related deaths, maintaining the fatality rate at 1.6 percent.
Based on the data, the country has 3,024 active Covid-19 cases.
It also revealed 204 new recoveries, resulting in a 98.3 percent recovery rate, with a total of 4,048,634 people having survived the virus.
On the availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds designated for Covid-19 patients, the DOH said that 221 beds, or 10.85 percent, of the 2,036 available ICU beds were currently occupied.
Non-ICU Covid-19 beds were also frequently utilized, with 3,016, or 16.39 percent, of the 18,404 available beds in use, while mechanical ventilators, numbering 2,089, had 98 currently in use by Covid-19 patients.
DOH continues to advise the public not to become complacent in the face of the Covid-19 threat.
The department stressed the importance of adhering to minimum health standards, which included wearing well-fitting face masks and staying in well-ventilated areas.
It said that individuals who show symptoms should be isolated immediately.
For added protection, DOH also reminded the public to get their Covid-19 vaccine and booster as soon as possible. (Zekinah Elize Espina)