By HANAH TABIOS
The Department of Health (DoH) reported 959 new COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the country’s total to 478,761.
The decrease was attributed to the fewer number of patients being tested in COVID-19 laboratories in the New Year.
The DoH said 21,219 are active cases or those who undergoing treatment or quarantined – 81.7 percent have mild symptoms, 7.9 percent are asymptomatic, 6.4 percent are in critical condition, 3.4 percent have severe symptoms, while 0.57 percent are moderate.
Quezon City has the most number of new cases with 73, followed by Davao City with 70, Rizal with 58, Agusan del Sur with 44, and Laguna with 41.
The DoH reported that 26 patients recovered, pushing the number of recoveries to 448,279. However, six more died, bringing the death count to 9,263.
The Health department reminded the public to be cautious in interpreting these numbers as an increase in cases in the coming weeks is still possible.
It said that it will continue to assess the extent of the effects of the holiday season on COVID-19 transmission and is also asking the public not to be complacent in the fight against COVID-19.
Three laboratories were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System (CDRS) on Jan. 3.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DoH has suspended a laboratory after it repeatedly failed to submit its COVID-19 test results on time. Four more laboratories also facing possible suspension for the same reason.
“We have been serving warning against laboratories which are not compliant,” she said.
The delays in the transmission of results usually affect the number of confirmed cases reported to the public.
