The Department of Health reported Friday 218 new confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines  bringing the total number of cases to 5,878.

This places the country behind Indonesia that has a total 5,923 cases after its health ministry reported 407 new COVID-19 cases, surpassing the Philippines as the country with the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.

The Philippines also recorded 25 deaths from the disease bringing the country’s total death toll to 387.

The Health Department also reported 52 patients recovering from the disease bringing the country’s total to 487 recoveries.  This is the third day in a row that the country registered more recoveries than deaths.  However, this is lower compared to the record-high 82 recoveries logged in on Thursday.

According to the DOH, the Philippines has a case fatality rate of 6.6% which is slightly higher than the global average of 6.4%.

Metro Manila still accounts for the most number of confirmed cases at 4,059 or 69% percent of the nation’s total. 1,348 infections are in Luzon, 152 in Visayas and 149 in Mindanao. The DOH said 170 cases are still up for validation.

The Health Department also reported that 42,215 have been tested for the disease as of Thursday.  (Rommel F. Lopez)