Today marks a grim and yet painful milestone in the pandemic as the Philippines passes the 1,000,000 total number of cases for COVID-19. This puts us in 26th rank globally together with 25 other countries that have crossed the million cases marker. We are also the second country in Asia (Indonesia being the first) to have more than a million cases.
The Health Agency reports 8,929 new cases today pushing the total cases to 1,006,428. With 11,333 new recoveries, the active cases are a tad lower at 7.4% (less than 75,000) with 70 new deaths reported. This brings down the case fatality ratio to 1.8%. However, with 16.7 % positivity rate with testing ramped up, will we expect fewer cases tomorrow?
We need to work harder at bringing the numbers lower and extending the MECQ will, at this time, be the most prudent recommendation so that we do not overtake other nations who are faring better than us during this outbreak. The government should also work doubly harder at rolling out vaccines quickly and safely during these tumultuous times.
The NCR contributed to 38% of the cases for today, followed by CALABARZON with 19% and Central Luzon at 13%. Seven regions continued to report triple digits.
In Mega Manila, Quezon City continued to lead with 18% of the cases followed by Taguig owning 17%, Pasig accounting for 9.9%, Caloocan for 9.8% and Manila with 9.5% of the total cases. Thirteen of 17 LGUs in NCR were among the top twenty cities with most cases.
On a provincial level, it was Cavite that continued to lead, followed by Bulacan, Rizal and Isabela with more than 400 new cases apiece (but less than 500).
Relative Joy 