DOH reports 894 new Covid-19 cases; public urged not to be complacent
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, Sept. 11, announced that there were 894 new Covid-19 cases in the country between Sept. 4 and 10.

The DOH verified that 10 of the newly reported patients were in serious or critical condition.
Meanwhile, the DOH confirmed 14 Covid-19-related deaths, with seven of these occurring in September 2023, six in August 2023, and one in June 2023.
DOH also noted the daily average of new Covid-19 cases, with the current weekly average, is now at 128 cases per day.
This data indicates a 15 percent increase when compared to the number of cases reported during the period from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3.
Based on the latest data available, DOH said that hospitals across the country were dealing with the admission of 276 patients classified as severe and critical due to the virus.
The increase in admissions, DOH noted, has placed a significant demand on the country's healthcare resources --- particularly impacting the availability of intensive care unit (ICU) beds designated for Covid-19 patients.
The DOH said that out of the 1,607 ICU beds available, 211 beds, equivalent to 13.1 percent, were already occupied.
Similarly, non-ICU Covid-19 beds were frequently utilized, totaling 2,109, or 15.1 percent, of the 14,011 available beds.
Do not be complacent
Related to this, the DOH reminded the public not to become complacent in the face of the ongoing Covid-19 threat.
The department 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.
Vigilance and strict safety measures are essential to combating the Covid-19 spread in the Philippines, the DOH stated.
Vaccination updates
Meanwhile, DOH reported a significant milestone in the vaccination campaign.
DOH said that more than 78 million individuals in the country, surpassing the target population of 100.44 percent, have received Covid-19 vaccinations.
Based on the National Covid-19 Tracker, 23 million individuals have received booster shots to enhance their immunity.
Additionally, DOH reported that 7.1 million senior citizens, or 82.16 percent of the target A2 population, have completed their primary vaccination series. (Zekinah Elize Espina)