Philippines: Covid-19 cases hit 500K; 2,163 confirmed on Monday - highest daily number in more than 2 months

Foreign passengers wearing protective suits line up for their flight to China at Manila's International Airport, Philippines, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. Coronavirus infections in the Philippines have surged past 500,000 in a new bleak milestone with the government facing criticisms for failing to immediately launch a vaccination program amid a global scramble for vaccines. - AP

MANILA, Jan 18 (AP/Xinhua): Coronavirus infections in the Philippines have surged past 500,000 in a new bleak milestone with the government facing criticism for failing to immediately launch a vaccination programme amid a global scramble for Covid-19 vaccines.

The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines on Monday reported 2,163 new daily confirmed coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, the highest in more than two months in this South-East Asian country.