UPDATE DOH reports record high daily COVID-19 cases

August 4, 2020

The Department of Health announced Tuesday a new daily record high of 6,352 coronavirus disease ( COVID-19) cases, bringing the total to 112,593.

It surpassed the previous high of 5,032 last Sunday.

Active cases are now at 44,429, the DOH said. Out of the active cases, mild cases account for 91.2 percent, asymptomatic 7.5 percent, severe 0.8 percent, critical 0.6 percent.

The DOH said 3,941 of the new COVID-19 cases occurred within July 22 to August 4. The National Capital Region account for 1,826 of these cases followed by Calabarzon, 981.

There were 11 deaths reported, bringing the total to 2,115. Patients which survived COVID-19 reached 240, resulting in total recoveries of 66, 049.

Meanwhile, in a virtual press forum by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), convenors of the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 said they are hoping that the government will stop using rapid antibody test kits in screening employees.

"We should stop using rapid antibody test already. Among all countries, I think it is only us that is still using it," said Antonio Dans of the Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine.

He said the rapid test kits does not search for the virus, but for the antibody.

"Where is the danger there? Those who won't test positive in the rapid tests will be capable of spreading the novel virus in the communities," he said.

"We really believe that the use of rapid tests in the workplace has contributed to the spread of COVID-19," added Dans.

Dans said this does not mean that workplaces must use reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing as it would be impractical.

"If you use RT-PCR test today and he gets a negative result, he will be allowed to go to work. But what about tomorrow? Will you swab test him again? And are you going to do that everyday? We cannot," asked Dans.

"Our advice for return to workplace protocols, there should just be symptoms-based and exposure-based checking everyday," he said.

By symptoms-based, he said those with cough, colds, fever, and other symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately get tested for COVID-19.

Dans said exposure-based refers to those who were exposed to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. DMS