The Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,933 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines on August 22, Saturday, bringing the country’s total confirmed cases to 187,249.

This is the 5th consecutive day that the number of new cases reported by the DOH exceeded 4,000.

Active COVID-19 cases in the country – total cases minus deaths and recoveries – were at 69,362 as of 4 pm on Saturday.

The DOH recorded 26 more fatalities from the disease, bringing the country’s total reported death toll to 2,966.

Another 436 patients were reported to have recovered from the disease, the DOH said, bringing total recoveries to 114,921.

The DOH says 91.5% of active COVID-19 cases in the Philippines are mild, while 6.6% are asymptomatic, 0.8% severe, and 1.1% are critical.

Most of the new confirmed cases reported on Saturday were from Metro Manila: 2,845. Many of the other new cases were from:

• Cavite: 461
• Laguna: 288
• Rizal: 167
• Bulacan: 152

The DOH said these numbers were based on the total tests done by 97 out of 109 laboratories nationwide.

The agency said it removed 49 cases from the total case count. “The total cases reported may be subject to change as these numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation,” it added.

Daily adjustments in reported cases and their status mean publicized daily totals may change later on.

Hospital bed capacity for COVID-19 is a critical aspect of fighting the pandemic. As of Friday, August 21, 48% of about 1,700 intensive care unit (ICU) beds allocated for coronavirus patients in the country are occupied.

Some 48% of about 12,600 isolation beds, and 51% of around 5,000 ward beds are also occupied, the DOH said.

Of about 2,200 mechanical ventilators, 31% are currently in use for COVID-19 patients. – Rappler.com