MANILA — There are 331 "fresh" cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Philippines, the Department of Health reported Monday, even as it recently claimed that it was already seeing a decline in the number of Filipinos with the respiratory disease.

There were also 248 “late cases,” bringing the total number of additional cases for Monday at 579.

This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 22,474.

Fresh cases refer to patients whose lab results were released and validated in the last 3 days. Late cases are those that were validated late.

Of the 331 fresh cases, 114 are from National Capital Region (NCR) while 156 are from Region 7 or Central Visayas. The remaining 60 are from other regions and there is one Filipino repatriate. It is the 3rd straight day that fresh cases were more than 300.

Meanwhile, of the late cases, 106 are from NCR, 5 are from Region 7 and 106 are from other regions. A total of 31 are Filipino repatriates.

While NCR is still considered the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines, Cebu is considered a hotspot after a spike in cases were observed last month. However, the DOH has yet to explain the new spike of cases in Region 7.

The DOH started using the new classification of additional cases during the last week of May after new cases increased supposedly because of more aggressive validation efforts. It has caused confusion among the public, but the DOH explained that it is needed to better see the actual situation of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

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The reclassification also coincided with the shift to general community quarantine in Metro Manila and other areas as government eased business and transportation restrictions.

The DOH also reported on Monday 107 new patients who recovered from COVID-19 or a total of 4,637 recoveries. New COVID-related deaths were at 8 on Monday or a total of 1,011 fatalities.

Worldwide, more than 7 million people have been infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus dashboard. Of those, 3.1 million have already recovered and 400,000 have died.