Philippines logs record daily COVID-19 deaths as data reclassified


FE Team | Published: October 30, 2021 18:54:40 | Updated: October 31, 2021 19:37:15


A person holds a placard reminding people to observe physical distancing as they visit the newly reopened portion of Manila Bay filled with artificial white sand, as the country's capital region loosens coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, in Manila, Philippines, October 16, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

The Philippines on Saturday reported its highest single-day coronavirus deaths, mostly due to the reclassification of previous cases, the health ministry said, according to Reuters.

In a bulletin, the ministry recorded 423 COVID-19 deaths, eclipsing the 401 casualties reported on April 9.

However, 373 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified and added to the death toll on Saturday, it added.

With nearly 2.8 million cases and 43,044 deaths, the Philippines has Southeast Asia's second highest infections and casualties, next to Indonesia.

But it is gradually loosening curbs to further reopen the economy as cases have eased to a daily average of roughly 7,700 in October from the peak of nearly 18,600 daily confirmed infections in September.

The Philippines has so far fully vaccinated 26.8 million of its 110 million population.

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