All-time high in COVID-19 daily updates

Philippines marks highest single-daily rate at 7,103 cases

MANILA – The number of new COVID-19 positive cases rose to an all-time high of 7,103 today.

The Department of Health (DOH) made the announcement at 4:00 P.M. today.

At midday today, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said 53% of the latest report on COVID-19 cases are Metro Manila residents.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization country representative to the Philippines said the increase in COVID-19 cases across the region is now limited to the country.

“It appears to be something that has been affecting many countries across the world. It demonstrated that COVID-19 still remains a new disease which we need to understand, and, the challenges that it poses and how we did to respond to (the pandemic) continues to evolve,” Dr. Abeyasinghe said.

In Malacañang, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar said they are repairing damaged quarantine facilities and probably building more. He added they have the personnel to attend to the immediate increasing number of patients.

Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) chair Vince B. Dizon said testing centers should furnish the results of the tests conducted to the Department of Health so government officials can hasten the contact tracing activities.

“They need to submit their reports to the Department of Health and for the said agency to share the relevant information with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),” he explained.

From the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units have been told to stop developing their contact tracing systems and use Stay Safe instead.

DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said local government units need not to develop their own systems and utilize the Stay Safe application. (Melo M. Acuña)

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Country Representative to the Philippines. (Melo Acuna/File Photo)