COVID-19 deaths account for 1.5% of 2020 mortality in Philippines

Data from the PSA showed that registered deaths from January to December 2020 reached 613,267, fewer than the total of 620,414 in 2019.

by Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star), 20 Jun 2021

MANILA, Philippines — Deaths due to COVID-19 accounted for only 1.5 percent of total mortality in the Philippines last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

Data from the PSA showed that registered deaths from January to December 2020 reached 613,267, fewer than the total of 620,414 in 2019.

Of the total deaths last year, only 9,244 or 1.5 percent were due to a COVID-19 infection as recorded by the Department of Health (DOH).

The COVID-19 fatality rate was highest during the initial phase of the pandemic last year because of limited knowledge about the virus and problems in testing capacity, the data showed.

As testing capacity increased, COVID-19 case figures grew and those diagnosed – most of whom had mild symptoms – were managed better, resulting in the falling fatality rate.

The mortality rate in the country was highest in the months of July, August, September and December when deaths reached 54,385 (9.9 percent growth), 56,792 (13 percent growth), 53,905 (3.6 percent growth), and 53,606 (3.4 percent), respectively.

As for COVID-19, these months also covered the most deaths due to the pandemic as well as the biggest single day record of fatalities at 258, as per the DOH records last year.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), there were 84,331 deaths in 2020, up by 7.3 percent from the 78,604 deaths the previous year. Metro Manila has been the epicenter of the pandemic.

The PSA noted that increases in mortality were recorded in 15 out of 17 cities and municipalities of NCR, with the biggest increase posted by San Juan City at 18.2 percent.

Significant increases were also reported in Pasig City at 12.3 percent and Makati City at 11.3 percent.

Meanwhile, declines in registered deaths during the period were recorded in Navotas and Mandaluyong cities.

In terms of absolute total deaths, however, Quezon City still recorded the most in NCR at 18,447 or 21.9 percent of the total.

Manila ranked second with 12,807 registered deaths, followed by Caloocan City with 10,172.

The three cities comprised nearly half of the total registered deaths last year at 49.1 percent.

On the other hand, Pateros had the least number of deaths registered in NCR, with 457 or 0.5 percent of the total.