Lambda variant found in Philippines which logs 14,895 new Covid-19 infections

Philippines' Health Secretary Francisco Duque vaccinates a health worker with Sinovac Biotech's Coronavac at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Quezon City, Metro Manila, March 1, 2021. - Reuters

MANILA (Reuters/Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): The Philippine health ministry on Thursday (Aug 19) recorded 14,895 new coronavirus cases, the second highest daily increase in infections since the start of the pandemic.

In a bulletin, it said total confirmed cases were 1.79 million, while deaths have reached 30,881, after 258 fatalities were recorded on Thursday. Active cases rose to a near four-month high at 111,720.