Philippines logs record-high 1,150 new COVID-19 cases in a single day; raise total to 31,825

MANILA — The Philippines on Tuesday reported 1,150 additional COVID-19 cases, the highest in a single day, raising the country's cumulative tally of confirmed coronavirus infections to 31,825.

The second highest number of additional cases ever reported in a day was 1,046 last May 29, the first day that the Department of Health broke down its new cases into fresh and late cases to allay the public's fears over the spread of the disease.

Of the additional cases on Tuesday, 789 are “fresh cases”, the highest reported also in a single day, while 361 are “late cases.”

Fresh cases refer to those whose test results were released within the last 3 days, while late cases are those whose results were released four days ago or earlier.

The new fresh cases include 207 from Metro Manila and 288 are from Region 7 or Central Visayas. Two hundred ninety four are tagged as “Others,” which may refer to other regions or cases that still do not have location data.

Of the late cases, 110 are from the capital region, 32 from Region 7, and 219, “Others.”

While Metro Manila remains the epicenter of the outbreak, Cebu City in Region 7 has been considered a hotspot.

On Tuesday morning, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Cebu City is in a warning zone when it comes to critical care utilization.

• READ: DOH says Cebu’s critical care facilities in ‘warning zone’ as COVID-19 cases rise

Meanwhile, there are 299 newly recovered patients in the country, bringing the total recoveries to 8,442.

The death toll is up by 9 to 1,186.

Vergeire said that with a case doubling time of 7.26, the Philippines is doing well compared to when the outbreak started in the country. The Philippines' first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported on Jan. 30 in a Chinese woman who arrived from China's Wuhan City where the disease is believed to have first emerged late last year.

Vergeire said there are “indications” the country is flattening the curve or curbing the spread of the virus. “But we are cautious because we are seeing spikes,” she said.

Nevertheless, she said the situation is improving.

Asked what DOH would want changed after 100 days of community quarantine, Vergeire said a number of weaknesses have already been identified, and which authorities seek to improve over time.

“We want more facilities,” she said, adding that improvements in their information system was also something they wanted.

“Hopefully in the coming weeks and months… we can improve our processes,” she said.

More than 9.1 million people have already been infected with the COVID-19 virus, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus dashboard. Of those, 4.5 million have recovered while 472,000 have died.