THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said only 447 average daily cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was recorded for the period January 2 to 8 this year.
Based on its COVID-19 case bulletin, there were 3,127 new COVID-19 cases reported nationwide during the one-week period, which is 9 percent lower than the number of cases reported from December 26 to January 1, which averaged at 494 infections daily.
There were seven additional severe and critical case during the past week and 79 deaths.
The DOH said there are currently 507 severe and critical cases in the country, as of January 8.
Of the total severe and critical cases, 431 are occupying ICU beds, which is 18.1 percent of the 2,379 total nationwide.
On the other hand, there are 4,185 patients who are occupying COVID-19 beds, which is 21.6 percent of the 19,373 total COVID-19 beds allocated nationwide.
Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz said the situation of Filipinos in China remained stable but reminded both workers and migrants to continue adhering to COVID-19 health protocols especially following the decision of the Chinese government to reopen its borders during the weekend.
There are more than 278,000 Filipinos living and working in mainland China and the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Speaking in Monday’s “Laging Handa” public forum, FlorCruz said most of the Filipinos who were infected with the virus during the recent COVID-19 wave in China have already recovered.
“Wala tayong numero kung ilan ang nagpositive. Ang alam natin anecdotally may ilang Filipino residents sa Tsina ang nag contract ng COVID-19 pero ang mga alam natin na nagkasakit ay gumaling na (We don’t know how may tested positive for the virus. What we know anecdotally is that a number of Filipino residents in China contracted COVID-19 but they have already recovered),” FlorCruz said.
He said the embassy has not received reports of Filipinos getting severe COVID-19 infection.
However, the envoy reiterated his reminder to Filipinos in China to continue observing health protocols.
“Mag ingat pa din dahil may kumakalat pa din na COVID (Exercise caution since the virus is still there),” he added.
FlorCruz said the embassy is still getting additional details on the move to lift border curbs.
“Nagbukas na ang borders ng Tsina at hindi na kailangan ng quarantine. Binuksan na din ang borders to incoming tourists or visitors. Sa ngayon, hindi pa malinaw ang mga details sa polisiya. Ang alam lang natin bukas na ang borders (The borders of China have reopened and there is no need for quarantine anymore. The borders have been reopened to incoming tourists or visitors. However, right now, we do not know yet the details of the policy, except that the borders have been reopened),” he said.
The DOH has earlier thumbed down proposals to impose stricter travel requirements on travelers coming from China, saying the government has been on heightened surveillance since the pandemic started in 2020. — With Ashzel Hachero
