As of May 18, 2020, the Department of Health Center for Health Development in Bicol (DOH-CHD) have not received any test results yet from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila for analysis.
It should be noted that swab samples are again being brought to the RITM as the Exhaust Duct of the Biosafety Cabinet of the Bicol Regional Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory (BRDRL) has been damaged by Typhoon Ambo (international name, “Vongfong”).
Meanwhile, 205 new cases has been found by the Department of Health nationwide. Total Covid-19 positive cases is now 12,718 with 831 deaths. Total recoveries is now at 2,729. The Philippines continue to trail Singapore and Indonesia in Southeast Asia in terms of the number of cases and ranks 43 around the world.
Total cases around the world is now 4.872 million. One in every four Covid positive cases, or 1.545 million of these is from the United States of America. Russia follows next with 290,678 while Spain ranks third with 278,188.
