DEATHS from the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continued to rise yesterday as 140 more patients succumbed to the deadly virus while 3,806 new cases were reported by the Department of Health.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the death toll rose to 26,232 for a case fatality rate of 1.77 while infections climbed to 1,485,457, racing fast toward the 1.5 million mark.
The new cases do not include figures from five laboratories that failed to submit data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last July 12.
From 46,934 last Tuesday, active cases dropped to 44,408, with 90 percent mild cases, 3.5 percent asymptomatic cases, 2.8 percent severe cases, 1.9 percent moderate cases, and 1.7 percent critical cases.
The DOH also reported 6,296 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 1,414,817. This means that 95.2 percent of COVID patients have recovered.
Eighty-four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have tested positive for the deadly virus, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In an online press briefing, DOLE-International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Visperas said among the OFWs who have tested positive were those repatriated last May, after a travel ban was imposed by the Philippine government to the UAE.
She said the 84 OFWs are among 2,763 Filipino workers brought home from May 15 to July 10 from seven countries that have imposed travel restrictions due to the threat of the Delta variant — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE, and Oman.
“These OFWs who tested positive for COVID-19 all came from the UAE,” said Visperas, adding they are still determining who among the 84 OFWs have been vaccinated against the deadly virus.
Visperas also said they are waiting for the results of the genome sequencing done on the samples of the 84 OFWs to determine if they are carrying the Delta variant or not.
She said at least four special repatriation flights have been set by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in all the Sundays of August.
The Department of Justice said there are two active COVID cases among its employees, bringing the total number of cases since January this year to 80. — With Ashzel Hachero
