The Department of Health (DOH) reported on June 1 that 46 more health workers have been infected with COVID-19 as of May 31, bringing the total to 2,606. Another health worker died, the latest death reported since May 10.
Almost half of the COVID-19 cases among health workers are active cases. Of the total cases, 1,172 or 45% are still active cases. Recoveries numbered to 1,402 or 54% of the cases. The number of health workers who died from COVID-19 are now at 32.
The recent rise in the number of health workers infected with COVID-19 came in as the DOH has been finishing its testing backlogs and distinguishing “fresh cases’ and “late cases” from the total number of cases it reported per day.
On May 31, the DOH reported 862 cases reported, from which 16 are “fresh cases” and 846 are “late cases,” and the total confirmed cases is at 18,086. This would mean that at least most of the 46 health workers reported today to have been infected with COVID-19 are among the “late cases.”
The testing backlog refers to samples that are not tested, or test results that are not released beyond 72 hours. “Fresh cases” are those with results released to patient within three the last three days, while “late cases” or the results that were released to patients four days ago or more.
DOH said they would clear their testing backlog of 545 by May 30 on May 31. However, the DOH reporting 846 late cases on May 31 would mean that another 301 was added to the 545 testing or validation backlogs.
The Health agency said on May 31 that there would be no more “late cases” will be reported “until the remaining operational laboratories submit their complete line lists.” However, on June 1, the DOH reported total confirmed cases of 552, with 119 “fresh cases” and 433 “late cases.”
The number of individuals who have tested positive are already at 24,388 as of May 31, according to the DOH COVID-19 tracker. The difference of this with the number of confirmed cases, or cases that DOH has validated, is at 6,302—another backlog the DOH has to catch up with. The DOH announces only the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in its daily press briefings.
