DOH reports 70 percent decline in COVID cases

CEBU, Philippines — COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have dropped by 70 percent compared to the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

In a statement issued on Friday, July 17, the DOH said a total of 1,532 confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded nationwide from January 4 to July 11, 2026.

“This is significantly lower than the 5,070 cases reported during the same period in 2025,” it said.

The DOH-Central Visayas, however, has yet to provide data on how many of the confirmed COVID-19 cases were recorded in the region during the same period this year.

The agency added that it continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation through its regional offices and local government units while maintaining disease surveillance and response mechanisms across the country.

The DOH noted that COVID-19 may present without symptoms or manifest as a mild to severe respiratory illness.

Common symptoms include fever, chills, sore throat, cough, runny or clogged nose, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss of or changes in the sense of taste or smell.

Despite the low number of reported cases, the DOH urged the public to continue observing simple but effective preventive measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

These include regular handwashing with soap and water, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and maintaining proper personal hygiene.

The health department also advised individuals experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness to seek medical consultation at the nearest health center or healthcare facility and follow appropriate health measures to prevent further transmission.

The DOH assured the public that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide timely, accurate, and verified information as needed.

COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It triggered the world's most significant public health emergency in more than a century after emerging in late 2019.

Widespread immunity from vaccination and previous infections has significantly reduced the number of severe illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths compared with the early years of the pandemic.

To recall, in December 2019, health authorities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, reported a cluster of pneumonia cases caused by a previously unknown coronavirus.

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

On March 11, 2020, WHO officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic as the virus had spread to more than 100 countries. The WHO ended the PHEIC on May 5, 2023.

Worldwide, more than 7 million officially reported deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

In the Philippines, more than 66,000 officially reported COVID-19 deaths have been recorded since 2020, based on DOH reports submitted to the WHO as of October 2023. — (FREEMAN)