FROM 32 last Wednesday, deaths from new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) plummeted to 17 but new cases continued to hover near the 6,000 mark, according to the Department of Health.
In its latest bulletin yesterday, the DOH said the toll from the deadly virus rose to 26,891 for a case fatality rate of 1.76 while the number of infections climbed to 1,530,266 counting the 5,828 new cases. The figure does not include data from five laboratories that failed to report to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last July 20.
Active cases jumped to 50,562 from 47,996 last Wednesday, with 92.7 percent mild cases, 2.5 percent severe cases, 1.7 percent moderate cases, 1.6 percent asymptomatic cases, and 1.5 percent critical cases.
There were 3,257 more recoveries, raising the number of survivors to 1,452,813.
Two Filipinos in Myanmar have succumbed to the deadly virus, prompting the Department of Foreign Affairs to issue an Alert Level 4 requiring the mandatory repatriation of all Filipinos living or working in Myanmar due to the worsening COVID-19 crisis in the country.
Ambassador Eduardo Kapunan said one of the two died last week. Kapunan also told CNN Philippines that there are 10 other Filipinos who have been infected with the deadly virus while three others have recovered.
There are 16 Filipinos who have yet to be tested but have shown symptoms of COVID-19.
Kapunan said the embassy is coordinating with the Filipino community in Myanmar to determine if there are others infected with the virus, adding they tend to keep silent on their conditions and deal with the illness on their own.
“The problem in Myanmar is there is almost no vaccination taking place and the medical services are almost collapsing,” Kupan said, adding the climate there is nearing catastrophic proportions.”
There are about 1,200 Filipinos living and working in Myanmar.
Kapunan said they are working to convince Filipinos to voluntarily sign up for repatriation to Manila. A repatriation flight is scheduled to leave Myanmar on August 3 but only 59 Filipinos so far have agreed to return home.
“Many of our countrymen have found good jobs here so it is hard to convince them to go home where they are uncertain of finding employment. Even if the government has already declared a mandatory repatriation, we do not have the means to force them,” Kapunan said.
“Medical experts have described Myanmar’s condition as catastrophic. Their medical facilities which are supposed to handle COVID cases are inadequate and still patients are pouring in while their supply of oxygen is almost down to zero,” Kapunan added.
In another development, Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing Jr. Said no new COVID-19 cases were reported among Filipinos there, adding they are in communication with the 3,000-member Filipino community in India to monitor their welfare.
President Duterte should be well and good as he has no known close contact with his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who got infected with COVID-19, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
Roque made the assurance after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed on her Facebook account last Tuesday that her younger brother, Sebastian, was infected with the virus.
In a radio interview, Roque said it has not been determined if Sebastian has been infected with the Delta variant.
“As far as I know there seems to be no problem, except that he tested positive for COVID-19,” Roque said. — With Ashzel Hachero, Peter Tabingo, and Raymond Africa
