Philippines posts 951 new COVID-19 cases, lowest so far this year | ABS-CBN

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Philippines posts 951 new COVID-19 cases, lowest so far this year

Philippines posts 951 new COVID-19 cases, lowest so far this year

Gillan Ropero,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Feb 28, 2022 05:02 PM PHT

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Market-goers navigate the Marikina Public Market on February 20, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
Market-goers navigate the Marikina Public Market on February 20, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATE) - The Philippines on Monday announced 951 new COVID-19 cases, the first time this year the tally fell below 1,000, ahead of easing Metro Manila and some other areas in the country to Alert Level 1 or the new normal.

The positivity rate was at 5 percent, based on test results of samples from 22,407 people on Feb. 26, Saturday, according to the latest Department of Health bulletin.

Of the newly reported cases, 895 or 94 percent occurred within the recent 14 days. Metro Manila (231 cases), Calabarzon (136 cases) and Western Visayas (93 cases) were the top regions with additional infections in the recent two weeks.

The number of fresh cases is the lowest since Dec. 29, when 889 were reported, according to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group.

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The Philippines has so far tallied a total of 3,661,997 cases, of which 52,179 or 1.4 percent remain active. This is the lowest number of active infections since Jan. 5, when the DOH announced 39,974, the ABS-CBN IRG said.

Of those still battling the disease, 47,157 (90.38 percent) are mild cases, 2,779 (5.33 percent) are moderate, 1,417 (2.72 percent) are severe, 528 (1.01 percent) have no symptoms, and 298 (0.57 percent) are critical.

COVID-related deaths increased by 50 to 56,451. Of the newly reported fatalities, 23 occurred this month, 22 last month, one in October last year, three in September, and one in June, the DOH said.

The figure is the lowest daily death toll since Feb. 22, when 13 were recorded, the ABS-CBN IRG said.

There were 1,717 more recoveries, raising the total number of recuperations to 3,553,367.

Three duplicates, including a recovery, were removed from the total case count, while 36 cases previously tagged as recuperations were reclassified as deaths after final validation, the DOH said.

Five laboratories, which contribute on average 3.9 percent of samples tested and 0.7 percent of positive cases, were unable to submit their data, the DOH said.

The intensive care unit (ICU) bed utilization rate in Metro Manila and nationwide was at 25 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

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The capital region is set to deescalate Tuesday to Alert Level 1 which allows full capacity in public transportation and workplaces.

Adults would be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings such as election-related events, or religious services, or entry into indoor establishments, such as restaurants, barbershops and hair salons, gyms, cinemas, parties, wedding receptions, karaoke bars, and concert halls.

March 1 also marks the first anniversary of the COVID-19 inoculation in the country. More than 63 million people have so far been fully vaccinated against the respiratory illness, while more than 68.7 million others have received their first dose, as of Sunday, Feb. 27, data monitored by the ABS-CBN IRG showed.

More than 10.1 million booster doses have also been administered.

Authorities continue to encourage those who have yet to receive their jab to do so, saying it prevents severe illness and hospitalization. They also remind the public to follow minimum health protocols such as wearing of face masks, observing social distancing and frequent hand-washing.

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Apple adds lower-price iPhone 16e to line-up

Apple adds lower-price iPhone 16e to line-up

Agence France-Presse

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Apple's new iPhone 16e | Photo from Apple


CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA - Apple on Wednesday introduced a new iPhone 16e model with a lower price tag as the company seeks to revive sales of its iconic device.

Apple touted the iPhone 16e as having many features found in more expensive models, including Apple-tailored artificial intelligence features and integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT.

"iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence," Apple Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing Kaiann Drance said in a release.



The iPhone 16e starts at $599 in the United States, compared with $799 for a standard iPhone, and will be available starting February 28, according to Apple.

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The name is clearly a nod to Apple's iPhone SE series, which were released until 2022, and similarly targeted to lower paying customers.

Along with a custom-made computer chip, the iPhone 16e will be the first in the line to use Apple's own C1 modem for wireless connectivity.

Apple has long relied on California-based Qualcomm for iPhone modems.

The more affordable iPhone debuts as Apple works to fuel sales in the face of intense competition, particularly in China.

Apple reported a whopping $124.3 billion in revenue in the year-end holiday quarter, but sales growth fell shy of market expectations.

Revenue growth was powered by Apple's services and digital content unit, with iPhone sales slipping in markets like mainland China.

The company hopes that customers will be attracted to new iPhone models infused with Apple Intelligence AI powers.

Along with Apple, other tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon are convinced that generative AI's powers are the next chapter of computing and are boosting spending to avoid being left behind.

Apple rival Samsung earlier this month made its new Galaxy S25 series, packed with AI capabilities, available worldwide.

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