Philippines logs 552,246 COVID-19 cases and 11,524 deaths
MANILA - Authorities from the Department of Health today said there were 28,926 new active cases logged yesterday bringing to a total of 552,246 cases since the pandemic broke out last year. However, there were 511,796 recoveries.
Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said they were still implementing the prevention, detection, isolation, treatment and reintegration.
“Government contact tracers reached 411,617 while 2,295,437 were assessed as 1,344,948 close contacts were made to undergo quarantine,” Undersecretary Vergeire told Roundtable with Philippine Press Institute this morning. She added 1,286,691 close contacts were tested through the RT-PCR procedures.
To date, there are 221 licensed laboratories who have already conducted 8,343,013 tests for an average daily output of 33,464 as of February 14,2020.
She underscored the need for an effective communication plan to confidence-building measures as the Duterte Administration will provide equitable access to COVId-19 immunization services to earlier identified priority groups which may have a minimum of 50 to 70 million Filipinos should there be enough global supply this year.
“The government will ensure safety in the immunization program and provide the necessary support to patients with adverse reactions,” she further said. Part of the government’s objectives is to institute governance, regulatory, financing and performance accountability measures for COVID-19 immunization.
To further emphasize the need for effective communication strategies, their BIDA program has reached out to barangays or villages, partnered with 14 national government agencies as well as 26 companies in the retail industry.
Undersecretary Vergeire explained the government has priorities workers in frontline health services, all senior citizens, persons with co-morbidities, frontline personnel in essential services including uniformed personnel, indigent population, other frontline workers and special populations s well as the remaining population.
Roundtable with Philippine Press Institute is a monthly Public Affairs program sponsored by the Hans Seidel Foundation. (Melo M. Acuña)

Health Undersecretary Mario Rosario S. Vergeire. (Screen grab from Roundtable with Philippine Press Institute/Melo M. Acuna)
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