The Philippines on Friday reported over 4,000 new COVID infections, the highest this year, underscoring the need to arrest the surge that has prompted a two-week curfew in Metro Manila starting next week.
The Department of Health tallied 4, 578 new cases Friday, bringing the total to 611,618. There are 52,012 active cases or 8.5%. The total death toll stood at 12,694 with 87 added on Friday.
The record-high cases for this year come just as the country started rolling out its COVID-19 immunization program.
Most of the Philippines have largely eased COVID-19 restrictions over the past few months with quarantines lowered to either general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine to allow the reopening of the economy.
But the spike in new infections and reports of new virus variants have prompted local government units to step up enforcement of COVID-19 protocols.
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On Thursday, Metro Manila mayors agreed to synchronize curfew hours in the capital region for two weeks starting March 15 to limit movement. The Philippine National Police increased troop presence in the streets to ensure the implementation of public health protocols such as physical distancing.
Even as vaccines have started to arrive, Filipinos were reminded not to be complacent and religiously practice minimum health standards such as wearing face mask and face shield, proper handwashing, and practicing physical distancing.
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