The death toll from the COVID-19 in the Philippines climbed to 247 on Saturday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported that 26 COVID-19 patients have succumbed to the viral disease.
The DOH also reported 233 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 4,428.
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The number of recoveries, meanwhile, increased to 157 with 17 new patients recovered.
The DOH, on Saturday, issued a statement following a social media report alleging that the DOH instructed a major hospital in Metro Manila to stop counting COVID-19 deaths.
“We would like to clarify that DOH has never issued an order to stop the census or reporting of deaths, or any cases related to COVID-19 to any health facility,’’ the DOH statement said.