PH COVID-19 infections up 33%
The Philippines logged 19,536 additional COVID-19 cases from July 18 to 24, averaging 2,791 infections a day, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
In the agency’s latest bulletin, DOH revealed that infections in the country rose by 33% in the last seven days, with 56 individuals showing severe and critical symptoms.
A total of 666 severe and critical patients are currently getting treatment in hospitals, representing 8.7% of the nation’s COVID-19 admissions.
DOH added that 21.7% of 2,664 intensive care unit (ICU) beds were occupied, while 26% of 22,231 non-ICU beds were used. COVID-related fatalities also rose to 44 during the past week compared to zero from July 11 to 17.
The resurgence of infractions, the DOH explained, is due to the presence of fast-spreading variants, increased mobility of the public, and waning vaccine immunity.
As a way to curb the spread of the virus, the Philippine government plans to launch a COVID-19 vaccination program that aims to administer booster shots to 50% of the government’s target population in the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.
“We also encourage the eligible population to get vaccinated and boosted with our COVID-19 vaccines to continue building a strong wall of immunity against the virus,” the health department stated.
