Last week, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in the country has reached almost a hundred per day.
On Saturday, March 28, the Department of Health (DOH) has reported the highest increase in the number of positive cases at 272. The total number of confirmed cases has now reached 1,075.
The DOH also announced 14 new deaths and 4 recoveries, bringing the total number of fatalities to 68 and recovered patients to 35.
The DOH said the sudden jump in cases is not unexpected as most of the released test results came from samples that were placed on hold due to lack of testing kits.
The health department explained the new patients have acquired the virus before the implementation of enhanced community quarantine, and explained the release of test results from RITM takes up to two weeks.
“Tumatagal po tayo ng lima hanggang pitong araw dahil nga po doon sa mga nangyaring mga backlogs. Pero ang kanilang commitment, kausap po natin sila kanina, na matatapos na po lahat ng backlogs in two to three days (It has been taking five to seven days due to the backlogs. But after we talked to them earlier, their commitment is to finish the backlogs in two to three days),” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
The DOH added that after two to three days, there will be real-time results since the processing would only take 24 to 48 hours.
Based on the agency’s records, there have been 2,287 individuals tested for COVID-19, while more than 11,000 have been processed by the RITM. – Report from Mark Fetalco
