The number of those found positive with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country has reached more than 20,000 on Thursday.

In its latest Covid-19 bulletin, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 634 new cases of the viral respiratory disease, which adds up to a total of 20,382 cases since the pandemic hit the country back in March.

Of the new cases, 313 or roughly half were fresh cases or those whose test results were released to the patient within the last three days.

Of these fresh cases, 114 are in the National Capital Region (NCR), 101 in Region 7, 97 in other areas, and one repatriate.

The late cases, meanwhile, reached 321 — NCR, 44; Region 7, 37; other areas, 177; and 63 repatriates.

More Filipinos have also survived Covid-19, with 97 new recoveries reported, totaling to 4,248 recoveries since the pandemic began.

The DOH also reported 10 new deaths, with the country’s Covid-19 fatalities now at 984.

Death benefits for healthcare workers

In an online briefing, DOH spokesperson, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said in order to accelerate the processing of death benefits of healthcare workers who died in the front lines against Covid-19, the DOH has signed a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) that would allow for the immediate distribution of the financial aid.

The JAO was signed, instead of drafting an Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), in order to expedite the process of the distribution, she said.

“Nag-issue na lang po tayo ng JAO kasama ang DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) at DBM (Department of Budget and Management) kung saan kailangan lamang ng tatlong pirma mula sa ating mga kalihim upang maibigay na po natin agad ang mga benepisyong ito (We instead issued a JAO with the DOLE and DBM where we would only need three signatures from our Secretaries to allow us to distribute these benefits),” Vergeire said.

She added that the DOH has already met and instructed the bereaved families of 32 healthcare workers who died from Covid-19 on the processing of the necessary documents for the cash aid.

“Sa kasalukuyang, nakipag-panayam na po ang DOH ang mga naulila ng 32 health workers upang magabayan po sila sa pag-fill up ng mga dokumento na kinakailangan sa pag-claim ng mga benefits na ito (Recently, the DOH has met with those left behind by the 32 health workers for us to guide them in filling up the necessary documents for claiming the benefits),” Vergeire said.

According to Republic Act 11469 or the ‘Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,’ healthcare workers who contract severe Covid-19 infection will be provided with a compensation of PHP100,000, while the family of healthcare workers who succumb to the disease will be given PHP1 million. (PNA)

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