By Alec Go
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 30,552 additional COVID-19 cases and 41,471 recoveries on Saturday (Jan. 22), bringing the active case count to 280,619.
There have been 3,387,524 confirmed cases and 3,053,499 cases tagged as recovered since the pandemic began, while 53,406 have succumbed to the disease including 97 that are newly reported.
To date, there are 8,591 asymptomatic cases, 267,236 mild, 2,996 moderate, 1,491 severe, and 305 critical. The DOH said 98.3% of all the cases are mild and asymptomatic.
𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: As of Jan. 22, the DOH reported 30,552 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,387,524 with 280,619 active cases.
DOH also announced 41,471 new recoveries, totaling 3,053,499. Meanwhile, 97 more have died, raising the death toll to 53,406. pic.twitter.com/q1wwpO0LTr
— PTVph (@PTVph) January 22, 2022
The intensive care unit (ICU) and isolation beds utilization for the country are both at 52%, while ward beds and ventilators are at 53% and 24%, respectively.
In Metro Manila, its ICU occupancy rate is at 50%, isolation beds at 47%, ward beds at 53%, and ventilators at 28%.
Out of the 68,049 tested based on Jan. 20 data, 45.1% are positive for the disease. The DOH said all laboratories were operational and have submitted data on Jan. 20.
Alert levels
In the Laging Handa briefing today, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is “too early to declare” and tell the public about deescalating Metro Manila’s classification to Alert Level 2.
“Kahit po sa tingin natin bumabagal na po ang pagdami ng kaso, bumaba na ang numero araw-araw, alalahanin po natin na mayroon pa rin po tayong mga kababayan na hindi na po nagpapa-test, mayroon din tayong mga kababayan na nag-a-antigen test na hindi po nairi-report sa DOH,” she said.
“We are closely monitoring, and according to projections, the peak might happen by the end of January or by the middle of February,” she added.
The official said they are also monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Meanwhile, she reminded the public to avoid public gatherings and reunions in celebrating the Chinese New Year on February 1, noting that transmission can still take place among vaccinated individuals.