The Philippines’ health department on Friday, February 4, reported that COVID-19 cases continued to decline for the fourth straight day.
The department said the country recorded 8,564 new infections, with the positivity rate going down to 24.3 percent based on samples of 37,932 individuals tested on February 2.
It is the lowest positivity rate since January 1, according to Edson Guido, head of the Data Analytics Team of media network ABS-CBN.
Metro Manila had 907 cases, followed by Western Visayas (782 cases), and Davao region (753 cases).
COVID-related deaths increased by 46, resulting in a total of 54,214 fatalities. Of the newly reported deaths, 26 occurred this month, 18 last month, and 2 in October, the DOH said.
There were 10,474 more recoveries, raising the total number of recuperations to 3,388,399. This is the lowest figure since January 14, when 9,027 recoveries were reported, the research group said.
The health department said six laboratories, which contribute on average 1.7 percent of samples tested and 1.8 percent of positive cases, were unable to submit their data.
Meanwhile, Davao region and Soccksargen are under critical risk classification for COVID-19 cases even as infections in Mindanao are plateauing, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bangsomoro region are under moderate risk case classification, while the Bicol region is considered as low risk for virus infection.
Visayas and the rest of Mindanao are under high risk case classification while the country overall is considered as having moderate risk for COVID-19 cases, she said.
