Based on the complete line list from 38 licensed laboratories, the number of recovered patients also increased to 4,063 after 84 more patients have recuperated, while the death toll climbed to 966.
The DOH explained the case validation of data undergo four steps where duplicated entries are removed. This is brought about by repeat tests and encoding errors.
DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said the gap between positive individuals and confirmed cases announced on the case bulletin cannot be fully avoided. She also announced only four laboratories are yet to submit their complete line list until Thursday.
The DOH said the smaller number of fatalities is a good indication that the COVID-19 situation in the country is improving. It explained that the average 25.3 deaths per day in April has gone down to 1.6 deaths by May.
Meanwhile, Senate President Tito Sotto III believes the Php 1.7 billion budget of the DOH must be used for treating patients instead of hiring additional 130,000 contact tracers. The DOH is yet to respond on the matter. – Report from Mark Fetalco
