The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday disclosed the total number of cases in the country reached 10,463 after 120 cases were recorded.
Data from the DOH show the Philippines recorded anew its highest daily recoveries at 116, bringing the total recoveries to 1,734 or 17 percent of the total number of cases. The death toll is now at 696 and there are currently 8,033 active cases.
DOH Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed the numbers reflect the flattening of the curve in the country but added one of the bases of the DOH is the positivity rate.
On April 6, the positivity rate of the country was at 17 percent where 4,000 out of more than 24,000 tested were confirmed positive for COVID-19. On May 6, more than 131,000 have been tested but only 10 percent were positive.
Vergeire welcomed the good news but reminded that the risk and possibility of second wave can take place as long as there is no cure and vaccine for the disease.
UP-NIH Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Director Dr. Edsel Salavana said “we can say that we have been able to adapt and the ECQ has bought us time to put our mitigation in place” but the situation will be a long haul since there is no vaccine yet.
Meanwhile, the health department said it is too early to conclude that Cebu is the new epicenter of COVID-19 in the country, following an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the area. – Report from Mark Fetalco
