The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to more than 700.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a press briefing on Thursday that 71 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, bringing the country’s total to 707 cases.

The death toll also jumped to 45, after the death of seven more COVID-19 patients.

“Kami po ay sadyang nakikiramay sa mga pamilyang naulila ng ating mga yumaong kababayan,” said Duque. (“We are extending our condolences to the bereaved families of our deceased countrymen.”)

Meanwhile, two more patients have recovered from the dreaded disease, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 28.

“Magandang balita po na marami na tayong kababayan na naka-recover. Ang recoveries po na ito ay palatandaan na hindi dapat haluhan ng stigma ang ating mga PUIs (patients under investigation) o PUMs (persons under monitoring) at lalong-lalo na ang ating mga frontline health workers,” said the Health chief.

(“It’s good news: many more of our infected countrymen have recovered. This underlines the importance of not assigning any stigma to PUIs or PUMs, and especially to our frontline health workers.”)

Duque reiterated anew that the public should be prepared to accept the probability that the number of cases will continue to rise in the coming days.

“Muli, ang bilang ng mga confirmed cases ay asahan na patuloy na tataas sa mga susunod na araw dahil mas marami na po tayong nate-test,” he said.

(“We reiterate that the number of confirmed cases will continually increase in the next few days as there are many more possible COVID-19 infected persons that have been tested.”)

By Analou De Vera (Manila Bulletin)