By The SUN
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| Quezon City residents queue up for vaccines amid searing heat in race against Omicron (PNA) |
The Philippines has reported 28,707 cases of Covid-19
on Sunday, Jan. 9, a record high since the pandemic swept across the country in
March 2020.
This pushed up the country’s total number of
coronavirus cases to 2,965,447, in what experts believe is driven by the spread
of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Media reports in the Philippines say the new figure came
a day after a previous record of 26,458 cases was announced on Saturday, Jan.
8.
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However, a check with the official Covid-19 figures
from the World Health Organization showed that the previous record high in the
Philippines was set on Sept 9, 2021 or exactly four months ago, when 27,887
cases were logged.
According to the Department of Health, the surge in
cases which started only last week raised the positivity rate to 44%, the
highest daily figure ever recorded for the country. This means that more than
two out of every five people tested for the virus came out positive.
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The total number of active cases reached 128,114, the
highest in over three months, or since Oct 2, 2021.
Despite the mounting figures, the DOH said the latest
tally was based on tests conducted two days ago yet, when 14 laboratories
failed to submit their data on time.
The newly confirmed cases are added to the overall
figure only after further validation to ensure there is no duplication.
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The health department also reported 15 new deaths from
Covid-19, only 11 of which happened this month. The rest happened from
September to December last year, but were only recently recorded due to “late
encoding.”
The overall death toll now stands at 52,150.
Meanwhile, recoveries from Covid-19 were up by 2,579 Sunday, bringing the total tally to 2,785,183 cases.
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| Two senior citizens got their jabs in Caloocan City Friday (PNA) |
DOH said occupancy of Covid-19 beds nationwide were still at safe levels, owing to more cases with only mild to moderate symptoms. There have been widespread reports, too, of people scrambling to buy medicines for flu and colds, indicating an increasing desire for home isolation and treatment.
In Metro Manila, the occupancy rate for all bed types
remains at over 50% but ward beds are now at a moderate level of 65% occupancy.
The rising number of infections which experts predict has yet to peak, has caused shopping malls to cut operating hours while motorists are being asked to show proof of vaccination at checkpoints in the National Capital Region as part of efforts to stem the surge.
Health officials are also floating the idea of putting
Metro Manila back to Alert Level 4, or the country’s second-highest quarantine
status.
Under this alert level, those below 18 years old,
above 65 years old or with comorbidity or other health risks are not allowed to
go out of the house except to buy food, medicine or other necessities.
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Leisure venues such as cinemas, carnivals, children’s
playrounds, karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, casinos, or those
used for horse racing, cockfights, lottery and betting, will be shut.
Gathering in residences
with individuals not belonging to the same household is also prohibited under
Alert Level 4.
Metro Manila is
currently under Alert Level 5 until Jan 15.
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