Philippines: Covid-19 cases surge to 67,456, death toll at 1,831

A police officer checks a woman's ID, on board a motorcycle with a makeshift plastic barrier for protection against the Covid-19, as the local government reimposed a lockdown due to a spike in cases, in Navotas, Metro Manila. Total cases in the country has gone past 67,000. - Reuters

MANILA, July 19 (Xinhua): The number of Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases in the Philippines surged to 67,456 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,241 new cases on Sunday.

The DOH said that the number of recoveries further rose to 22,465 after 398 more patients have survived the disease.

The death toll increased to 1,831 after 58 more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH added.

The Philippines also recorded 162 Covid-19 deaths a week ago, the highest daily rise in South-East Asia so far.

The Philippines' government is enforcing partial coronavirus restrictions in the capital Manila for another two weeks.

They are also set to reinstate stricter curbs if a rise in new cases and deaths does not slow down.

The daily rate of cases and death toll in the country has also been putting hospitals under strain. - Xinhua