The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in the Philippines spiked to 4,648 after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 220 new positive cases on Sunday.
The country also posted its highest number of COVID-19-related fatalities in a day at 50, bringing the total number to 297.
Recoveries, on the other hand, also leapt to 197 after the health department recorded the country’s highest successful recoveries in a day at 40.
The 50 deaths reported by the DOH also include previously unreported fatalities due to the clearing of testing backlogs, while the 40 recoveries are all new successful recovered patients: those who were admitted to hospitals and under home quarantine.
Meanwhile, the Philippines placed second, next to Malaysia in terms of highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, according to data from think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) spearheading the COVID-19 response has announced the mandatory disclosure of infected patients’ personal information as the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine reaches its fourth week.
The disclosure of the patients’ personal information will augment their contact tracing efforts, which will now be led by the Office of Civil Defense, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, IATF spokesperson said. (RJ Espartinez)