For the fifth straight day, the number of patients who recovered from the coronavirus disease surpassed the number of deaths—56 against 12—bringing the total recoveries to 572.
READ: More patients recover, new cases hit 218
In a virtual presser, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergerei said the number of COVID-19 patients who lost their battle to the highly-contagious respiratory ailment was now at 409.
She said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country has reached 6,259 with 172 new cases.
In the Senate, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go considered “positive developments” the greater number of recoveries than deaths caused by COVID-19 the past days.
“Now, the recoveries are increasing as compared to deaths. But still, we don’t want people dying. That’s what is important right now—the patients recovered and the number of deaths decreased. We need to flatten [the curve], no more increase,” he said.
But at the same time, the Filipino Nurses United has expressed sadness and alarm over the increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths among nurses and other health workers.
“This highlights the extreme danger they are exposed to at work while being ill-equipped and poorly protected,” said a statement issued by Maristela P. Abenojar, FNU president.
READ: Local cases hit 5,453, top list in incidence in SEA
As of April 17, the DOH reported that there are now 766 health workers infected with COVID-19, 339 of whom are doctors and 342 nurses.
Meanwhile, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara believes that to contain the spread of COVID-19 faster, the government must hasten the implementation of mass and random testing, particularly at the community level.
Angara aired his concern about how many COVID-19 cases were not being detected and were still spreading the virus in their communities.
READ: COVID-19 Tracker: PHILIPPINES as of April 19, 2020
Around 18 to 20 percent of COVID-19 carriers are asymptomatic, meaning they show none of the symptoms common to the virus.
At present, the DOH-certified laboratories can only test up to 4,000 a day so they are prioritizing those who are severely ill, vulnerable and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Due to the limitations, individuals who are asymptomatic are not being tested.
Once the capacity of the DOH-certified labs is able to hit 8,000 a day, then even the asymptomatic individuals, including the frontliners can be tested, health authorities said.
“We need massive and random testing. With massive and random testing, you can spot the silent carriers and then the individuals concerned and their communities will be able to respond appropriately to stop the spread of the virus,” Angara said.
Elsewhere, the Bureau of Correction has confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus case after a 72-year-old inmate at the Correction Institution for Women tested positive to the COVID-19.
Justice Undersecretary and spokesman Markk Perete disclosed on Sunday the BuCor, under the administrative supervision by the Department of Justice, has reported that the CIW inmate was admitted at the Sta. Ana Hospital on April 13.
Earlier, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology confirmed that 18 inmates and personnel of the Quezon City Jail have been tested positive for coronavirus.
The isolation facility in Quezon City was set up after an inmate died of suspected COVID-19 last March 25.
Some 17 persons deprived of liberty were placed in isolation after contact tracing and were tested for COVID-19. Nine of them tested positive.
The bureau announced in its Facebook account that the inmate was diagnosed at the CIW infirmary with community acquired pneumonia last Monday and was immediately recommended for hospital referral and subsequently admitted at the Sta. Ana Hospital on the same day.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday held its first virtual En Banc session to discuss the petition filed by relatives of several persons deprived of their liberty or DPLs seeking the issuance of an order directing the temporary release of their relatives considered as political prisoners due to COVID-19 pandemic.
READ: Highest recoveries in a day set at 53
The petitioners also requested the Court to create a Prison Release Committee that would urgently study and implement the release of all other prisoners in various congested prisons throughout the country who are similarly vulnerable.
The Free Legal Assistance Group and parylist representatives belonging to the Makabayan Bloc are also pushing for the early release of elderly and sick PDLS to decongest prison and jail facilities to contain the spread of the virus.
In related developments, the Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said some 571 Filipino crew of the Norwegian Breakaway cruise liner have been repatriated from Orlando, Florida to Manila, bringing the total number of Filipino repatriates to 16,000.
The DFA said the seafarers were brought home through a chartered flight paid for by the Norwegian Cruise Lines.
The cruise ship’s local manning agency CF Sharp provided land transportation to bring them to their assigned quarantine facilities approved by the Department of Health.
The repatriates have since undergone health inspections by the Bureau of Quarantine and would be subject to a 14-day facility-based quarantine as certified by the DOH.