ONE hundred seventy eight more succumbed to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while 5,685 new cases were reported by the Department of Health yesterday, raising the number of infections in the country to 1,073,555.
In its latest bulletin, the DOH said the new cases do not include figures from five laboratories that failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) on May 3.
The death toll from the deadly virus rose to 17,800, just 200 short of the grim mark of 18,000, for a case fatality rate of 1.66.
Active cases dropped to 62,713 from 66,060 last Tuesday, with 94.4 percent of them mild cases, 1.8 percent asymptomatic cases, 1.6 percent severe cases, 1.2 percent critical cases, and 1.02 percent moderate cases.
The DOH reported 8,961 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 993,042.
Forty-one more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for the deadly virus, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
These brought to 18,457 the number of Filipinos in 94 countries and territories who have contracted the deadly virus since last year.
But the DFA received no new report from its embassies and consulates of fatality among overseas Filipinos while three more survived the virus.
The current death toll stood at 1,147 while 11,292 have recovered.
Another policeman died of COVID-19, bringing to 57 the death toll in the police force.
PNP chief Debold Sinas said the latest fatality was assigned in Nueva Ecija, a 31-year-old corporal who tested positive on May 3 and was rushed to the hospital due to difficulty in breathing and muscle cramps. The policeman died the next day.
The PNP also reported 158 new COVID-19 infections, bringing to 20,769 the number of police personnel who have contracted the disease, with 19,086 having recovered and 1,626 still active cases. — With Ashzel Hachero and victor Reyes
