Two hundred more cases have been added on Monday to the total number of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 6,459. The Department of Health (DOH) also reported the COVID-19 death toll in the country is now at 428 while the number of recoveries continues to increase at 613 as 41 new patients were reported to have recovered.
Based on the latest data of DOH, 55,465 individuals have been tested for COVID-19 nationwide. Seventeen laboratories are currently conducting tests while 40 more labs are awaiting accreditation.
The health department aims to conduct 8,000 tests per day since experts say it is the average number of individuals who may acquire respiratory disease. The agency said the Philippine General Hospital, Baguio General Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City will receive 1,300 UP-NIH test kits this week.
Meanwhile, the DOH announced it has requested Php 1.3 million worth of ventilators from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). – Report from Mark Fetalco
