Philippines logs 1,744 new COVID-19 cases as tally rises past 555,000

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health reported that 1,744 more people contracted COVID-19 in the Philippines, pushing the caseload to 555,163 on Thursday.

Of the total cases, 31,115 or 5.6% are active, latest figures showed. 

At least 512,375 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 in the country after the department recorded 412 additional recoveries.

Meanwhile, the death toll reached 11,673 with 96 more patients succumbing to the respiratory illness.

What’s new today?

• Voting 9-8, Metro Manila mayors agreed to recommend to the national government that the capital region be placed under modified general community quarantine beginning March.
• Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization country representative, said the country might experience a surge in COVID-19 cases should there be further relaxation of movement restrictions. The WHO official said the easing of quarantine measures must be done in a “targeted” manner.
• The OCTA Research Team warned the capital region “will be under a constant threat of a surge” should it shift to MGCQ. The researchers stressed that the government must finish inoculating health workers in the region before loosening restrictions.
• The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute is stuck in regulatory limbo in the Philippines as it lacks some crucial documents to fasttrack its approval for emergency use.

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