MANILA, Philippines, Oct 31, (Agencies): The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 1,088 new Covid-19 cases recorded from Oct 23 to 29. Significantly, these figures revealed a 5% decrease in comparison to the previous week, covering Oct 16 to 22, with an average daily count of 155 cases.

Among these new cases, 10 have been classified as "severe" or "critical" based on the latest data. Sadly, there have been 13 recorded deaths, with 10 of them occurring between October 16 and Oct 29.

Furthermore, hospitals across the country have admitted a total of 259 severe and critical COVID-19 patients for necessary treatment. Specifically, out of the 1,462 ICU beds allocated for COVID-19 patients, 160 of them are currently occupied, making up approximately 10.9% of the total.

The DOH also reported that out of 12,494 non-ICU COVID-19 beds, 1,985 are currently in use, representing 15.9% of the available capacity.

In light of these developments, the DOH strongly urged the public to remain vigilant in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 threat. The department emphasized the critical importance of adhering to public health standards, such as wearing masks, seeking well-ventilated spaces, and immediate isolation in the event of experiencing symptoms, particularly under Alert Level 1.

Furthermore, the DOH reported that approximately 78 million people in the country have received COVID-19 vaccinations, surpassing the target population by 100.44 percent. This highlights the positive progress in the vaccination campaign.