The Philippines recorded 20,310 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, September 3, the second highest daily infections reported since the pandemic started last year.
The health department said the nationwide tally of COVID-19 infections in the country is now at 2,040,568 with 158,994 active cases, the highest since April 17 this year.
The total recoveries climbed to 1,847,701 after 7,710 more patients recovered from the illness, although 193 new fatalities were also reported, bringing the death toll to 33,873.
The health department has earlier announced that new COVID-19 cases could peak in the middle of September as it noted that the country has been seeing new peaks every week since July.
The positivity rate of the virus, based on 67,759 samples screened on Wednesday, is at 27.4 percent, meaning that more than 1 in 4 people tested is positive for the virus.
The utilization rate of Metro Manila’s intensive care units is at 70 percent, while 72 percent of ICU beds nationwide are currently occupied.
The government’s One Hospital Command Center said it is receiving about 400 to 500 calls per day.
Several big hospitals in the national region have already suspended the acceptance of new patients in their emergency rooms due to the stream of fresh admissions.
