New COVID-19 cases soar; reaches 9,505
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) today reported 9,505 new COVID-19 cases, the second highest ever since the pandemic began last year. Yesterday, the DOH logged 9,838. There were 8,773 cases last Thursday, March 25. From the same report, it was learned 481 recovered while there were ten new fatalities.
With the latest report, the total active e cases soared to 118,122 or 16.6%, while recoveries reached 581,161 or 81.6% of the overall figures. The fatality rate remained at 1.85% with 13,159 deaths.
From the total of 34,101 persons tested, 16.2% turned out positive.
This is the third consecutive day that new cases reached over 8,000.
It was learned top government officials were in an executive session since this morning.
Meanwhile, OCTA proposed an MECQ for about two weeks to stop the transmission which fueled the surge and to save the hospitals and healthcare workers from being overwhelmed as in other countries.
In a statement, OCTA said their projection “continues to be accurate” as the country continues to witness longer queues for admission.
“The longer these patients wait for proper medical attention, the higher their risk of succumbing to this infection,” the OCTA statement underscored. They called on government to lower healthcare utilization rate as well as another time out now.
These suggestions come from their desire to save lives and livelihoods.
“The longer we delay the implementation of stricter mobility restrictions, the more people will get sick and die from this surge,” the OCTA group claimed. The stood their ground that it is only when the government mitigates transmissions will be able to jumpstart the country’s economy.
Earlier in the day, the World Bank, in its latest economic update for East Asia and the Pacific, said the COVID-19 pandemic stalled poverty reduction and increased inequality.
“Economic performance has depended on the effectiveness of virus containment, the ability to take advantage of the revival of international trade, and the capacity of governments to provide fiscal and monetary support,” the report entitled Uneven Recovery was released in Washington, at 9:00 P.M. EDT, Friday or 9:00 A.M., Saturday in Manila. (Melo M. Acuña)

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