The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said they plan to shorten the process of detection and isolation of COVID-19 patients to five days.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the decision to relax the quarantine classification came with the local government’s responsibility to provide a faster response in terms of COVID-19 detection and isolation.
“The recommendation is we will go to the GCQ with heightened restrictions but the LGUs should shorten the period of detection until the patient’s isolation,” said Vergeire.
5,790 new COVID-19 cases logged
The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported 5,790 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases to 1,143,963, as six laboratories failed to submit data on time.
The COVID-19 death toll rose to 19,191 with the addition of 140 new fatalities.
On the other hand, the total number of recoveries climbed to 1,069,868 after 7,541 more patients overcame the respiratory illness.
This left 54,94 active cases. Of these, 93.3 percent were mild, 2.1 percent were asymptomatic, 1.9 percent were severe, and 1.4 percent were in critical condition.
Data from the DOH also showed that 58 percent of the country’s intensive care unit beds and 40 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.
Average new cases down
The country logged a seven-day average of 6,191 new COVID-19 cases — 10 percent lower than the previous week.
The latest monitoring report by OCTA Research released Saturday night said the figures covered the period May 9 to 15.
The National Capital Region (NCR) topped the list with 1,644 new cases but the total dropped by 30 percent, followed by Cavite with a total of 330 new cases, which was 20 percent lower than the previous period.
The NCR had 1,855 new cases from May 5 to 11.
Laguna had 297 new cases and a 17 percent decrease, Bulacan’s 256 new infections were 5 percent lower, and Rizal tallied 238 new cases, a 29 percent decrease.
Among NCR cities, Navotas had the fewest new cases at 16 (down by 19 percent) and lowest average daily attack rate (ADAR) at 5.99.
Quezon City had the most new cases at 398 but this was 25 percent lower than the previous week.