The Philippines recorded 3,572 new COVID-19 cases from March 14 to March 20, 13 percent lower than the cases reported in the previous week.
The Department of Health (DOH) said in its weekly case bulletin that the daily case average was 510 cases.
There were 805 severe and critical cases currently admitted.
Of 3,473 ICU beds, 17.8 percent were occupied while 16.6 percent of non-ICU COVID-19 beds were in use, the DOH said.
Of the new cases this week, only one was tagged as severe or critical cases.
Meanwhile, more than 65.1 million people or 72.41 percent of the government’s target population are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The DOH said 11.5 million have received their booster shots.
At least 6.5 million senior citizens or 75.31 percent of the target A2 population have also received their primary vaccine series.
There were also 655 more verified deaths last week.
The DOH counted 577 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,674,286 cases.
The country’s active case count decreased to 45,201, according to data posted on the DOH website.
There were 45,339 active cases recorded on Saturday, with 525 new COVID-19 infections.
A total of 3,570,822 people have been counted as recoveries, while the death toll climbed to 58,263.
The latest data showed that 24.64 percent out of the 3,701 total intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients nationwide were in use.
At least 22.04 percent of the country’s 20,773 isolation beds were utilized, while 13.66 percent of the 14,037 ward beds nationwide were in use.
In the National Capital Region (NCR), at least 24.68 percent of the 1,256 ICU beds were occupied.
An infectious disease specialist on Monday urged the public to get their COVID-19 booster shots to prevent another possible surge in cases.
A resurgence of infections “is always a possibility,” said Dr. Edsel Salvana, member of the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) technical advisory group.
“COVID has shown us surprises. It’s important for us to use tools that we know work against COVID-19. Especially for those who have yet to get their booster shots after full vaccination and are 18 years and above, please get your additional dose,” he said in Filipino.
A fourth vaccine dose is being studied for the immunocompromised, while its data on the general public were “still very preliminary,” Salvana said.
Also on Monday, health workers from Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) held a noontime protest to demand for the prompt release of their long overdue unpaid benefits such as active hazard duty pay
(AHDP) under the Bayanihan Law 2, CNA incentives and clothing allowances.
“Health workers in this time of COVID-19 pandemic are called modern-day heroes. Tirelessly, they serve and treat COVID-19 patients amidst their great risk of contracting the disease. Contradictory,
they have not yet received their fully desired benefits,” said Eleazar Sobinsky, president of the Lung Center of the Philippines Employees Association-Alliance of Health Workers (LCPEA-AHW), in a statement.
“Our hospital is one of the assigned COVID-19 referral hospitals but we, health workers who admit droves of COVID-19 patients amidst our vulnerability to become patients also, are deprived of this small compensation. Our lives and the lives of our family are at stake in the fight to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
