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| OFWs under quarantine in a government facility in Metro Manila (GMA News photo) |
The
Philippines has reported 590 more Covid-19 cases on May 30, just two days
before the lockdown in Metro Manila and other key places is set to be relaxed.
The
total tally now stands at 17,224.
The death toll rose to
950 after eight new fatalities were reported, while the total recoveries rose
to 3,808 with 88 new ones.
The day’s count was
divided into 252 “fresh” cases, meaning those based on test results released to
patients within three days, and 338 “late” cases, where the reporting was made
after the cut-off time.
The daily figure, which
was released without explanation more than four hours late, was first split
into the two categories after a record spike of 539 cases was recorded on
Thursday, and a much higher figure of 1,046 on Friday.
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Critics, including Senator Francis Escudero, have called
out the Department of Health on the maneuver, accusing it of fudging the
figures to make it look like the rate of infection has slowed down when it is
fact accelerating.
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| Health USec Ma Rosario Vergeire says the new categories are meant to ease concerns over the spike in cases |
There
are 11,972 active cases, or about 64% of the total. Of these, 714 or 6 percent
are asymptomatic, 11,184 or 93.4 percent are mild, 56 or 0.5 percent are
severe, and 18 or 0.2 percent are in critical condition.
The spike in the reported cases
comes just days before several key areas are set to shift to a more relaxed
general community quarantine. These include Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley ,
Central Luzon and Calabarzon, the provinces of Albay and Pangasinan; as well as Davao City
This means, most businesses will be
allowed to open and public transportation will resume in a limited form.
