The Philippines started the New Year with coronavirus cases on the rise, as the Department of Health logged on Friday 1,765 new cases, bringing the total to 475,820.
While the daily tally saw a dip that went down to less than 1,000 from December 27 to 29, it has gone back up again to under 2,000 as regularly logged in December.
The slump in COVID numbers has been attributed to fewer people being tested and some laboratories closing for the holidays.
“Eight labs were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System (CDRS) on December 31, 2020,” read the DOH COVID-19 Case Bulletin #293.
The department also reported 26,677 active cases, which is 5.6 percent of the total number of cases. Of the active cases, 81.9 percent are mild cases; 9.8 percent are asymptomatic; 5.1 percent are critical; 2.7 percent are severe; and 0.44 percent are moderate.
It also reported that 106 persons recovered recently, bringing the total recoveries to 439,895, which is 92.4 percent of the total.
The DOH also reported four new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 9,248, which is 1.94 percent of the total. It also reported that 9 duplicates that were removed from the total case count, as seven recovered cases have been removed.
Both the DOH and the OCTA Research team said a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country was likely during and after the holiday season.
GCQ formally extended
Duterte eased quarantine restrictions in Isabela province and Iloilo City, which were both on the GCQ list he announced last Monday.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the general community quarantine classification for the National Capital Region and seven other areas until the end of January, Malacañang said on Friday.
The rest of the country was placed under the modified general community quarantine.
The following areas will be under GCQ until January 31, according to the statement released by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque: Metro Manila, Santiago City, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Lanao del Sur, Davao City, and Davao del Norte.
Duterte earlier said the restriction was to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which experts said could surge after the holiday gatherings.
Metro Manila, which accounts for about a third of the country's gross domestic product, has been under GCQ since August, with stricter lockdowns enforced in earlier months as COVID-19 infections rose.