MANILA (UPDATE) - The Philippines on Tuesday reported a 4.3 percent COVID-19 positivity rate, the lowest so far this year, and 1,067 additional confirmed infections as the capital region and 38 other areas deescalated to the lowest alert level.

The positivity rate was based on test results of samples from 18,766 individuals on Feb. 27, Sunday, according to the latest Department of Health bulletin.

"Please note that lower reported numbers and positivity rate today are because these are Sunday laboratory outputs, which traditionally have the lowest outputs per week," the DOH said.

Of the newly reported cases, 652 or 61 percent occurred within the recent 14 days. Metro Manila (144 cases), Calabarzon (92 cases) and Central Luzon (72 cases) were the top regions with additional infections in the recent two weeks.

The number of fresh infections is the highest since Feb, 26 when 1,223 were announced, according to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group. It is also the fourth lowest daily figure this year following 1,038 cases announced on Feb. 27, the research group said.

The Philippines has so far recorded a total of 3,663,059 cases, of which 51,592 or 1.4 percent remain active. This is the lowest number of active infections since Jan. 5 when the DOH reported 39,974, the ABS-CBN IRG said.

It is also the sixth lowest number of active cases so far this year, following 39,974 active infections announced on Jan. 5, the research group added.

Those currently battling the disease are broken down as follows: 298 in critical condition; 1,417 severely ill; 2,779 moderate cases; 46,609 mild condition; and, 489 without any symptoms.

The DOH reported no new COVID-19 deaths, the total of which stands at 56,451.

It announced 1,652 more recoveries, raising the total number of recuperations to 3,555,016.

Five duplicates, including 3 recoveries, were removed from the total case count, the health agency added.

Nine laboratories, which contribute on average 1.4 percent of samples tested and 1.4 percent of positive cases, were unable to submit their data, the DOH said.

The intensive care unit (ICU) bed utilization rate in Metro Manila and nationwide was at 26 percent each.

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The capital region and 38 other cities, towns and provinces deescalated to the lowest alert level on Tuesday, allowing full capacity in public transportation and workplaces.

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The public is urged to get their booster shots as only 10 million of 63 million fully vaccinated individuals have received their additional jabs, said Dr. Ted Herbosa, special adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

• Filipinos urged to get booster shots as Metro Manila, 38 other areas deescalate to lowest alert level

Under Alert Level 1, vaccination cards will no longer be required in public transportation. It will, however, be asked in some establishments such as gyms, restaurants, bars, and other enclosed spaces, Herbosa said.

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Over 63 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 a year since government began the program, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

• Over 63 million Filipinos fully vaccinated vs COVID-19 a year after rollout

In an ABS-CBN TeleRadyo interview on Monday night, the DOH spokesperson said that as "part of our transition to our new normal", the COVID-19 case bulletins will be revised beginning March 7, focusing only on the number of severe and critical cases, ICU occupancy, and, if necessary, the detection of new variants.

It will also be released weekly, although relevant data will continue to be posted on the DOH website's COVID-19 tracker, she said.

• COVID case bulletin to focus on severe, critical cases; to be released weekly

The Philippines' first COVID-19 case was confirmed on Jan. 30, 2020 in a Chinese woman who arrived from Wuhan City, China where the disease is believed to have first emerged.

The vaccination program, meanwhile, was launched over a year later, on March 1, 2021.