PH logs another record-high with 37,207 new COVID-19 cases

The Department of Health (DOH) logged a record-high 37,207 new COVID-19 cases on Jan. 14, making it the third straight day with over 30,000 new daily infections.

The latest tally surpasses the previous record of 34,021 cases from Jan. 13. 

It also reported 9,027 recoveries and 81 deaths.

This new number brings the total active cases to 265,509, of which 98.2% of the cases are mild and asymptomatic according to the DOH.

Based on reports from Jan. 12, 47.3% of the 81,737 tested for the virus turned out positive. 

Despite the high case count, hospital utilization nationwide sits below 50%. DOH said that 46% of the country's 3,400 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 47% of 20,100 isolation beds, 48% of 13,400 ward beds, and 19% of 3,000 ventilators have been utilized by COVID-19 patients nationwide.

Earlier in the week, the country logged its highest case count of 33,169 on Jan. 10 and recorded fewer new cases the next day, Jan. 11 with 28,007. Fresh infections started hitting the 30k mark again on Jan. 12 with 32,246 new cases and on Jan. 13 with 34,021.

There are 43 confirmed cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in the country so far.