COVID-19 cases in Philippines surpass 500,000

MANILA, Philippines — Confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide have surpassed half a million as the Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 1,895 cases yesterday.

The DOH said the total number of COVID cases reached 500,577 with 93.1 percent surviving the infection.

Additional 5,868 recoveries brought to 465,991 the number of those who recuperated from the illness.

Active cases stand at 24,691, which account for 4.9 percent of total cases. The bulk or 91.1 percent of active cases are mild and asymptomatic.

COVID-related deaths rose to 9,895 with the inclusion of 11 newly reported fatalities. The number of mortalities represents 1.98 percent of total cases.

Davao City posted the biggest number of new cases with 107 followed by Quezon City with 106 and Isabela with 65.

Pampanga logged the fourth highest number of new cases with 63 followed by Bulacan with 62.

The National Capital Region (NCR) remains on top among the country’s regions with high numbers of active and new cases followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).

Davao ranked third in the list of regions with high numbers of active cases, but listed fourth in terms of new cases.

Central Luzon logged the third highest number of new cases while Eastern Visayas landed fourth.

As of Jan. 15, over 6.8 million individuals have been tested with an 8.19-percent positivity rate.

Among those who tested positive were 13,999 healthcare workers, of whom 97.7 percent or 13,675 have recovered while 76 have died.

A total of 12,721 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) were confirmed positive for COVID-19. Most or 12,451 of them have survived while 217 are still admitted in hospitals and six have succumbed to the illness.

Meanwhile, the DOH advised parents to spend more time with their children and allow them to go out for short spells to promote their mental health.

In a recent virtual briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Vergeire admitted that a prolonged lockdown is no longer good for the mental health of children.

“When we talk about mental health, it is really no longer healthy for us to be unable to do our usual practices. This is especially so for children because they are more impatient than adults. They are the ones that more often look for something to do, something they can have fun with,” Vergeire explained.

She also stressed the importance of parents making children understand the need to stay at home amid this pandemic.

To ease boredom, the DOH official suggested extra activities for children since they cannot just be preoccupied with online classes.

“If possible, let them go out and get some sun in the backyard. If not possible, accompany them in seeing outside surroundings even for a while. This is very important to children at this point in our situation,” Vergeire said.