More recoveries than deaths as total COVID-19 cases near 5,000

April 13, 2020

Two hundred eighty-four new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) Monday as the total neared 5,000

The DOH said that the total number of cases are 4,932 since the government announced an enhanced  community quarantine on March 17.

But the number of recoveries outpaced that of deaths.

Forty-five recoveries were announced by the DOH, raising the total to 242. Deaths reached 315 after 18 fatalities were revealed.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said vaccines versus COVID-19 may not come until later this year at the earliest.

In a televised press briefing, Vergeire said "experts say it will take about maybe 6 to 12 months or maybe 1 year to one and a half years before it comes out.''

Vergeire said there is no better preventive measure versus COVID-19 than the DOH advisories.

"Physical distancing, avoidance of mass gathering, frequent washing of hands. These are non-pharmaceutical intervention we need to practice to prevent transmission," said Vergeire. DMS