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Sunday, December 22, 2024

New infections surge ahead of lockdown expiry

Patients reported to have recovered from the deadly novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) now number 1,924, after health authorities registered 82 new recoveries.

TWO-WHEEL RIDE. In this era of mandatory social distancing, a rider-only vehicle becomes the favored mode of transportation, like the electric scooter driven by a youngster along Padre Faura St. in Manila. The government encourages the use of two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles whose specs and safety features suit the ‘new normal’. 

The number of cases nationwide also climbed up to 10,794 with 184 new infections, only five days before the enhanced community quarantine over Metro Manila and other high-risk areas expires on May 15.

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Of these new cases, 77 or 42 percent were from Metro Manila, 75 or 41 percent were from Region VII, while the remaining 32 or 17 percent were from other parts of the country, the Department of Health said.

Meanwhile, the death toll climbed to 719 after 15 more patients succumbed to the respiratory illness.

In the country’s former capital of Quezon City, the local government reported 1,524 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

In its statement, the city government said the number of COVID-19 cases reached 1,524 as of May 9, 7 p.m.

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Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said there were no reported new cases of COVID-19 among Filipinos abroad.

This is the first time there were no new cases nor fatalities since the agency started issuing reports on COVID-19 affected Filipinos abroad.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad remains at 2,178, with 253 deaths.

As of Sunday, 1,283 of the identified cases are undergoing treatment for the disease, broken down regionally as follows: 147 in the Asia-Pacific, 412 in Europe, 531 in the Middle East and Africa, and 193 in the Americas.

This coincided with a statement from the Bases Conversion Development Authority in New Clark City that 50 OFWs diagnosed as carriers of the virus disease were undergoing treatment at a makeshift clinic of the National Government Administrative Center building since Thursday.

The patients, according to the statement, were transported to NCC to isolate them and for extensive treatment.

The BCDA did not mention the origin of OFWs and the specific place where they were picked up before they were transported straight to NCC in Capas, Tarlac.

BCDA president Vince Dizon said: “NGAC is one of the We Heal As One Centers put up by the government to reduce the community spread of the disease and decongest hospitals.

“In the quarantine center, COVID-positive patients are provided with 24/7 medical care, free meals, and free Internet connection.”

NGAC currently has 688 cubicles but the facility, manned by BCDA and CDC under the supervision of the DOH, can still be expanded to accommodate up to 1,000 patients.

READ: Duterte teases ‘modified quarantine’ after May 15

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