Rappler's latest stories on Department of Health
DOH: Expect reported deaths, recoveries to increase as more LGU data come
The Department of Health continues to urge the public to follow health standards, like mask wearing and physical distancing to prevent deaths from returning to the high numbers seen in March
DOH clarifies home quarantine allowed, but stresses rules should be followed
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire says while the government is not discouraging home quarantine, patients should transfer to temporary monitoring facilities if they cannot properly isolate themselves at home
DOH misses daily COVID-19 update due to ‘significant volume of data’
The DOH says it is 'seeing an increase in the number of reported cases, recoveries, and deaths in the country' based on its initial findings on the numbers for Sunday, July 12
Why are coronavirus cases still increasing in the Philippines?
The Department of Health continues to stress it is essential that people follow health protocols like wearing a face mask, frequently washing hands, and practicing physical distancing
DOH: COVID-19 labs have backlog of over 12,000 tests as cases rise
The Department of Health also says limited testing supplies and expanded testing protocol contributed to the backlog
[PODCAST] Ang Department of Health sa gitna ng pandemya
Ano ang mga kontrobersiyang hinaharap ng Department of Health sa gitna ng coronavirus pandemic?
As COVID-19 numbers rise, DOH taps Alden Richards as 'BIDA champion'
The Philippines' Health Department launches an information campaign to remind the public of safeguards against coronavirus transmission
DOH reminds hospitals: Refer mild COVID-19 cases to treatment centers
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire says hospitals should help facilitate transfers of mild coronavirus cases to treatment centers, not just refuse to admit them
How complete is DOH's coronavirus dataset?
(UPDATED) Data points like location and dates help in efforts like contact tracing and data analysis, and serve as a guide for the government's virus responses
DOH to introduce 'new way' of reporting COVID-19 cases
'By July 10, we would be introducing our new way of reporting cases where there would be no fresh and late cases anymore,' says Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire
11 Metro Manila hospitals report COVID-19 ICU beds now full
The Department of Health orders hospitals to increase the number of beds dedicated to coronavirus patients following the growing number of cases
Citing old data, DOH mistakenly identifies emerging COVID-19 hot spots in Metro Manila
(UPDATED) The Department of Health clarifies hours later that Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire was reading data from June. The cases in 3 of the cities initially identified have since 'significantly declined.'
As coronavirus cases rise, DOH reiterates: Stay home, follow health protocols
While the nation tries to adjust to the virus, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stresses it is important the public continues to follow basics like frequent hand washing and wearing a mask
Record 2,434 new coronavirus cases in PH push total above 44,000
The Department of Health also reports 7 more deaths and a record 489 additional recoveries on Sunday, July 5
DOH to stop giving patients lopinavir, ritonavir following experts' advice
The decision follows the World Health Organization's announcement it was stopping solidarity trials for the antiretroviral drugs after it failed to reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients
PH coronavirus cases surpass 41,000
1,494 new cases, the second highest tallied in a single day, send the country's total infections close to breaching 42,000
PH coronavirus cases breach 40,000 with record 1,531 new patients
The Department of Health also reports a record 400 recoveries in a single day, as total confirmed cases reach 40,336, and the death toll rises to 1,280
Philippine coronavirus cases rise to 38,805
The relatively low rise in new cases is due to a 'temporary' change in the Department of Health's reporting system supposedly intended to improve analysis of coronavirus numbers
Expired Bayanihan Law stalls compensation for coronavirus-hit health workers
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire says the Department of Health is in talks with other agencies for possible alternative funding sources
Patients in need of remdesivir can get special FDA permits
Currently, the Philippines only administers remdesivir to hospitalized patients with severe cases of coronavirus
DOH says deployment of more doctors to Cebu City voluntary for now
The Department of Health acknowledges the issues raised with its initial plan to deploy rural health physicians from other areas to Cebu City
DOH-Western Visayas suspends deployment of doctors to Cebu City
'Deployment will be temporarily held in abeyance until issues and concerns are settled with all concerned physicians and other stakeholders,' says DOH-Western Visayas Director Marlyn Convocar
DOH sends more doctors to Cebu City, but rural physicians hit 'lack of consultation'
Some physicians from the Doctors to the Barrios program say the Department of Health did not consult them about their redeployment to Cebu City, adding that this would jeopardize health in far-flung areas
PH coronavirus cases jump to 35,455, death toll at 1,244
The Department of Health reports 653 new cases, 8 more deaths, and 258 additional recoveries on Sunday, June 28
Robredo rejects calls for Duque’s resignation in the middle of health crisis
'I’m not in favor of parang ruffling everything in the midst of it all kasi baka lalong... maging sintunado lahat ng ginagawa natin,' says Vice President Leni Robredo
DOH: Despite high single-day coronavirus case increases, most are 'mild'
The health department says overall, the increases are 'gradual' and can still be accommodated by the current health system
Central Visayas' critical care capacity in 'warning zone,' says DOH
(UPDATED) 'We need to monitor closely the critical care capacity in Region 7,' says the Department of Health
'Very low' chance of virus infection in air-conditioned vehicle if with mask, seated apart
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reiterates the importance of following health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in shared vehicles
IN CHARTS: COVID-19 cases in the Philippines
(6th UPDATE) The 2,539 total new cases reported on July 8 constitute the highest one-day spike so far. Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines, thus far, has the highest rate of active cases, and the lowest case recovery rate.
PH coronavirus cases climb past 30,000, death toll at 1,169
The Department of Health reports 653 new cases, 19 additional deaths, and 243 more recoveries on Sunday, June 21
DOH clarifies Central Visayas still under GCQ
The DOH says, Region VII, which includes the province of Cebu, 'is still under GCQ, except for Cebu City, which is under enhanced community quarantine; and Talisay City, which is under modified ECQ'
PH coronavirus cases breach 27,000
The coronavirus death toll is now at 1,108
DOH: Dexamethasone 'not magic pill' for COVID-19
While the potential effectiveness of the drug can be a breakthrough in science, Health Undersecretary Maria Vergeire says the public should wait for the peer review of the clinical trial
Ombudsman probes Duque, DOH for alleged coronavirus anomalies
(4th UPDATE) Ombudsman Samuel Martires says his field investigators were 'given the runaround by some DOH officials'
PH coronavirus cases reach 26,781
(UPDATED) The Department of Health reports 364 new confirmed cases, 5 new deaths, and 301 more recoveries
PH coronavirus cases surpass 26,000
The Department of Health reports 490 new cases, 10 more deaths, and 298 additional recoveries on Monday, June 15
DOH: Recent spike in coronavirus deaths due to 'late reports'
Only 4 of 22 coronavirus deaths reported on June 13 died within June, while the rest died in previous months, says the Department of Health
PH coronavirus cases reach 24,787
(UPDATED) The Department of Health reports 615 new cases of COVID-19, with the death toll now at 1,052, and total recoveries at 5,454
UP experts flag gaps in DOH coronavirus data
If left unresolved, the lack of accurate and accessible data can undermine efforts to contain the spread of the virus, say the experts, who now work closely with the health department
PH coronavirus cases rise to 24,175
The Department of Health reports 443 new cases on Thursday, June 11
Task force orders StaySafe developer to give users' data to DOH
IATF-EID warns it will revoke StaySafe's official status if the developer does not comply with new directives. Yet it was the task force itself that endorsed the app before it went through technical vetting.
2nd coronavirus testing facility in Cavite gets DOH approval
The facility has two RT-PCR machines which can each handle 400 tests a day
FAST FACTS: How gov’t coronavirus labs manage test samples
Under the system, sub-national laboratories will receive and process specimens for a region or specific areas
PH coronavirus cases climb to 23,732, death toll rises to 1,027
The Department of Health counts 740 new cases, 10 more deaths, and 159 additional recoveries
DOH explains spike in COVID-19 cases since easing of lockdown
(UPDATED) Since the national government eased community quarantine in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, daily fresh cases have been higher than in the previous weeks
PH coronavirus cases rise to 22,992, deaths now at 1,017
The Department of Health reports 518 new cases and 6 more deaths due to COVID-19
NCMH records spike in mental health consults during coronavirus lockdown
National Center for Mental Health psychiatrist Bernard Argamosa says their crisis hotline received an average of 30 to 35 calls per day and 400 calls per month during the lockdown
After PNP doctor’s death, DOH repeats advice vs large-scale disinfectant spraying
Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reiterates there is insufficient evidence that the practice is an effective strategy in killing the coronavirus
Philippine coronavirus cases exceed 22,000, deaths now at 1,011
The Department of Health counts 579 new cases, 8 more deaths, and 107 additional recoveries
Finally, more coronavirus-hit health workers receive gov't compensation
The Department of Health says families of 25 out of 32 health workers who died due to the coronavirus received funds promised to them, while checks for 10 of the 42 health workers severely infected are ready
