MANILA - The Department of Health on Saturday announced 233 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019, bringing the nationwide total to 4,428.

The health department also announced 17 new recoveries, bringing the total of recovered cases to 157.

Twenty-six new deaths have also been recorded, bringing the number of fatalities to 247.

The DOH recently issued a memo changing the classification for COVID-19 patients in a bid to boost testing measures for patients being screened for the virus.

Meanwhile, the DOH has also denied reports that a Metro Manila-based hospital was allegedly "instructed to stop counting COVID-19 deaths."

"DOH clarifies that it has never issued any order to stop the census or reporting of cases or any case related to COVID-19 to any health facility," it said.

It also urged the public to be discerning when spreading information.