The number of daily reported deaths due to COVID-19 in the country has not dipped below 50 since the beginning of February 2021, data from the Department of Health (DOH) show.
Likewise, the daily reported death toll on January 12 reached 139, 146 the next day, and 137 on the 15th.
The DOH explained that the recent increase is due to the accumulation of unreleased data in the previous months that have just been validated.
“Meron kasi tayong mga confirmed cases na namatay subalit ang kanilang death ay not related to COVID (We have confirmed cases of deaths, but they are unrelated to COVID),” Dr. Alethea De Guzman of DOH-Epidemiology Bureau clarified.
“For example may mga nai-involve sa vehicular accident or injuries. So kapag ganito, as per WHO protocol, hindi natin sila dapat itinatala (For example are those involved in vehicular accident or injuries. In those cases, as per WHO protocol, they should not be recorded),” De Guzman added.
The health department admitted that completion of details about the death of a patient is a challenge amid location and verification factors where LGUs “really want to see the death certificates.”
The highest number of deaths was recorded last July and August last year. At present, the COVID-19 case fatality rate of the country is 2.11 percent. Cagayan Valley, Central Visayas, and CARAGA are currently being monitored amid increasing cases.
Meanwhile, the carrier or source of infection of two cases of COVID-19 UK variant in the country has yet to be unidentified. Authorities are now conducting intensified contact tracing. However, the OCTA Research group advised that monitoring should not be limited to the UK variant alone.
“I believe right now, the most threatening is the Brazilian variant so hopefully we don’t find that here and the importance of securing our borders, this is the most important aspect especially we want to relax some restrictions,” Dr. Guido David said. – Report from Mark Fetalco
