The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported the highest number of COVID-19 recoveries in a day since the pandemic began.
According to the DOH, 41,205 new recoveries were made, bringing the total number of those cured of respiratory disease to 646,100.
Despite this, the Philippines still recorded 11,028 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases this Sunday for a total of 795,051.
The death toll reached 13,425 after the deaths of 2 more people were reported due to COVID-19.
As a result, there are 135,526 active cases.
While the number of additional COVID-19 cases per day remains high, the bed capacity of some hospitals in Metro Manila has been depleted due to the overflow of patients.
At the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, the capacity of the emergency room has reached 200 percent and the oxygen tank has also run out.
As a result, the hospital temporarily closed its outpatient department but insisted that they would continue to accept non-COVID-19 patients, especially those with lung disease.
Some hospitals in Metro Manila such as Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Manila, and Asian Hospital and Medical Center, and VRP Medical Center in Mandaluyong have already announced that their COVID-19 wards are full.
Highest number of COVID-19 recoveries in a day recorded
According to experts from the OCTA Research Group, it is not yet clear whether the cases will be reduced even though human activity has decreased in Metro Manila and 4 neighboring provinces after the areas were subjected to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Those are some promising indicators but we’re not there yet… there are still some LGUs (local government units) showing a rapid increase like Mandaluyong, 67 percent increase and Marikina, 51 percent, Las Piñas, 57 percent,” said Guido David, fellow of OCTA Research.
“It would also depend on the response based on our recommendations, which is to increase isolation facilities to prevent household infections,” said OCTA fellow Michael Tee.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assured that the issue of facilities is being addressed.
“Kasama sa ating layunin sa paglagay sa ECQ is siguraduhin ang paglagay ng karagdagan isolation facilities and monitoring facilities,” said Duque.