AS MORE cases were reported from the National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Visayas, total coronavirus infections in the country went up to 9,485 as of Monday, May 4.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 262 new cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the last 24 hours.

Almost half of the 262, 122 or 47 percent, were from NCR or Metro Manila while 88, or a third of the total, were from Central Visayas. The rest, or 52, were from other areas in the country.

Sixteen more patients had died, bringing the death toll to 623 as of Monday.

The DOH also reported that 101 other patients have recovered from the diseases, raising the number of survivors to 1,315.

Nationwide, a total of 42,551 patients were in various community-managed isolation and quarantine centers as of May 2.

The highest numbers of patients under isolation or quarantine are in Bicol, with 6,904 patients; Western Visayas, 5,357 patients; Central Visayas, 4,473; NCR, 4,228; and Calabarzon, 3,450.

Meanwhile, the DOH said the Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila may soon be declared a Level 3 hospital.

Level 3 hospitals are facilities equipped with isolation rooms at the emergency and in-patient departments and are capable of managing infectious cases.

The Sta. Ana Hospital is the second largest government-owned hospital in Manila with a 300-bed capacity, 33 of which are part of their DOH accredited isolation ward, with its own infectious disease control center.

“DOH is working closely with the Sta.Ana Hospital and the Manila City LGU extend support to all our healthcare workers afflicted with COVID-19,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

“DOH is committed to ensuring that no other HCW will fall victim to the disease by partnering with organizations such as the WHO to train and capacitate our hospitals and HCWs on infection and contamination control,” he added. (Jove T. Moya/SunStar Philippines)