The Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,498 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Thursday, July 16, bringing the tally to 61,266.
Of the 2,498 additional cases, 1,246 “fresh” or newly validated and 1,252 reported late.
Meanwhile, total recoveries also increased to 21,440 after 467 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 1,643 with 29 new deaths.
The top five provinces with the highest number of new cases were Metro Manila with 1,886, Cebu with 198, Cavite with 57, Davao del Sur with 44, and Laguna with 44.
The recent data from DOH also showed 38,183 active patients who are undergoing treatment or quarantine, 90.7 percent of which are mild, 8.5 percent are asymptomatic, 0.4 percent are severe, and 0.5 percent are in critical condition.
According to DOH, the numbers reported today were based on the data submitted by 71 out of the 84 operational laboratories nationwide.
The health department also removed 82 duplicate cases from the total tally of COVID-19 cases.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced Wednesday evening Metro Manila would remain under the general community quarantine while Cebu City will transition to modified enhanced community quarantine.
Roque said President Duterte’s decision was based on the recommendation of his deputies Secretary Roy Cimatu and Secretary [Carlito] Galvez and Secretary Eduardo Año.
New quarantine classifications
The following areas will stay under GCQ for two more weeks:
- National Capital Region
- Laguna
- Cavite
- Rizal
- Mandaue City
- Lapu-Lapu City
- Ormoc City
- Southern Leyte
- Zamboanga City
- Butuan City
- Agusan del Norte
- Basilan
The following are designated as modified GCQ, medium risk:
Cordillera Administrative Region
- Benguet
- Baguio City
Ilocos Region
- Ilocos Sur
- Pangasinan
- Ilocos Norte
- La Union
- Dagupan City;
Cagayan Valley
- Cagayan
- Isabela
- Nueva Vizcaya
Central Luzon
- Bataan
- Nueva Ecija
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Tarlac
- Zambales
- Angeles City
Calabarzon
- Batangas
- Quezon
- Lucena City
Mimaropa
- Oriental Mindoro
- Occidental Mindoro
- Puerto Princesa City
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Bicol Region
- Albay
- Masbate
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Sorsogon
- Naga City
Western Visayas
- Iloilo
- Negros Occidental
- Capiz, Antique
- Aklan
- Guimaras
- Iloilo City
- Bacolod City
Central Visayas
- Negros Oriental
- Bohol
- Cebu Province;
Eastern Visayas
- Western Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Tacloban City;
Zamboanga Peninsula
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Zamboanga del Norte;
Northern Mindanao
- Misamis Occidental
- Bukidnon
- Lanao del Norte
- Cagayan de Oro City
- Iligan City;
Davao Region
- Davao Oriental
- Davao del Norte
- Davao del Sur
- Davao de Oro
- Davao City;
Soccskargen
- Sultan Kudarat
- Cotabato
- South Cotabato
- General Santos City;
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
- Lanao del Sur
- Maguindanao
Other areas not mentioned are under low-risk MGCQ, Roque said.