A health worker in Indonesia takes patient's sample for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippineslogged 2,747 new COVID-19 cases on September 26, bringing the national count to301,256, according to the country’s Department of Health.
The Philippines has the largest number ofinfections across Southeast Asia, with a death toll of 5,284 and 232,906recoveries. Metro Manila is the worst-hit region with an additional 1,115 casesbeing reported on the day.
More than 3.37 million people have to date beentested for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
Philippine Health Undersecretary MariaRosario Vergeire said there is an "improvement" in the country'scritical care utilisation rate in the last two weeks, adding that there hasbeen a "slow decongestion" in hospitals, including in Metro Manila.
The rate in Metro Manila has gone down toabout 60 percent from a high of up to 81 percent in August, meaning hospitalshave the capacity to take in more COVID-19 patients, she said.
The transmission rate has dropped to lessthan one and the country health department is closely monitoring 1,963 virusclusters in hospitals, jails, and densely populated communities.
Despite the improvement, Vergeire said thegovernment needs to continue to strengthen the health system in its efforts toslow the spread of the the virus.
The Philippines continues to recruit morehealth workers, including doctors, nurses and medical technologists, to helpcombat the COVID-19 pandemic. The health department said a total of 9,133health workers contracted the virus, including 60 deaths.
Metro Manila remains under generalcommunity quarantine until September 30. The government will announce whetherto ease or retain the lockdown status for the following weeks before the end ofthe month.
Meanwhile, Indonesia had 4,494 newinfections and 90 deaths to report on September 26, lifting the total to 271,339and 10,308, respectively.
The country records the highest number of fatalitiesacross the region./.
