The Department of Health (DOH) logged 3,314 new cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total to 164,474 cases.

“As of 4PM today, August 17, 2020, the Department of Health reports the total number of COVID-19 cases at 164,474,” said the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin  #156.

A total of 3,314 confirmed  cases were reported  based on the total tests done by 91 out of 105 current operational labs.

DOH likewise announced 237 recoveries, a day after it logged a record-high 40,397 recoveries due to its so-called “mass recovery adjustment.”

This brings the total number of recoveries to 112,759.

The Philippines’ active cases rose to 49,034. 

Active cases refer to patients who are still infected with COVID-19 and are staying either in the hospital or under home quarantine.

The Philippines has been logging record-high numbers in terms of new COVID-19 cases since late July, following the easing of quarantine measures and the gradual opening up of the economy.

A government special adviser on COVID-19 said the country last week reached its peak of new COVID-19 cases in a day as it reached more than 6,000.

Of the 3,314 reported cases today, 2,854 (86%) occurred within the recent 14 days (August 4 – 17, 2020). The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were NCR (1,656 or 58%), Region 4A (672 or 24%) and Region 3 (131 or 5%.)

The DOH also reported 18 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 2,681.

Of the 18 deaths, 4 (22%) in August, 12 (67%) in July, and 2 (11%) in June. Deaths were from Region 4A (5 or 28%), Region 7 (4 or 22%), NCR (4 or 22%), Region 3 (3 or 17%), Region 10 (1 or 6%), and BARMM (1 or 6%).

There were 93 duplicates that were removed from the total case count. Of these, 64 recovered cases and two  deaths have been removed.

These numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation, the DOH said./Stacy Ang