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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH records 7,757 new COVID-19 cases

PH records 7,757 new COVID-19 cases

Published Mar 21, 2021 04:35 pm

For three consecutive days, the Philippines has logged more than 7,000 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. 

(JUAN CARLO DE VELA / MANILA BULLETIN)

In its latest case bulletin issued on Sunday, March 21,  the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 7,757 new cases. This brought the country's total to 663,794, of which, 73,072 were active cases. 

Since March 19, the DOH has been logging over 7,000 new COVID-19 cases. 

The DOH also reported that the recovery tally increased to 577,754 with 15,288 new survivors. However, the death count jumped to 12,968 with 39 more fatalities. 

The OCTA Research Team warned in its latest report that hospitals in Metro Manila may reach full capacity by April if the surge in coronavirus infections will not be controlled. 

“ur modeling suggests that with the current reproduction number hovering around 1.9, we expect both total bed and ICU capacity in the NCR to reach full 100 percent occupancy by the first week of April,” the research group’s report dated March 20 stated. 

Data from the DOH COVID-19 tracker showed that 29 hospitals in Metro Manila already reached 100 percent capacity in terms of beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients. 

Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon suggested to the government to place the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon to either two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or modified  enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). 

"To tell you honestly, there are only three regions that we should focus on: National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon. Ito (these) comprise 80 percent of total cases. So all you need to do is just put your efforts there," said Leachon in a radio interview on Sunday. 

The public was urged by the DOH on Saturday night, March 20, to “suspend non-essential travel and ensure strict adherence to minimum public health standards across all settings.”

“The DOH emphasizes that the number one objective right now is to ensure care is not hampered nor delayed for COVID and non-COVID patients,” it then said. 

“To do this, we need to ensure that our hospitals do not get overwhelmed, so everyone must act with extreme vigilance and help reduce transmission by consistently adhering to our preventive measures, as well as following our quarantine and isolation protocols,” it added. 

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