Philippines: Covid-19 cases surging; country may revert to lockdown


Jeepney drivers cut cellophane to be made into dividers for their jeepneys to ensure social distancing in Manila on Monday (July 6) after thousands of jeepneys hit the road again after over three months since they were forced to stop operation amid the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. - AFP
MANILA, July 6 (Xinhua): The number of Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases in the Philippines surged to 46,333 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,099 new cases on Monday.

The DOH said that the number of recoveries further rose to 12,185 after 243 more patients have survived the disease.

The death toll also increased to 1,303 after six more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH added.

According to the DOH, 998 of the daily reported cases were in Metro Manila, 466 cases in the Central Visayas region in the central Philippines and 541 cases were reported in other parts of the country.

The DOH further said that 94 overseas Filipino workers repatriated by the government have also tested positive for the virus.

The infections and deaths are among the highest in South-East Asia.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said there’s a possibility the capital area may revert back to a lockdown if the uptick continues and hospitals get filled to capacity again.

At least one major Manila hospital, the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, said its Covid-19 ward was running at full capacity and appealed that new patients be taken elsewhere.

President Rodrigo Duterte eased the lockdown in metropolitan Manila, an epicenter of infections, on June 1 to bolster an economy on the brink of recession. One major commercial and tourism region, central Cebu city, was placed back under a strict lockdown in mid-June due to alarming infection spikes.

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