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.
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The DOH also reported 233 new coronavirus infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 4,428.
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.