The Philippines, maintaning efforts to meet its vaccination target, on Tuesday tallied 16,361 more COVID-19 cases.
This brought total active cases to 171,142, and the cumulative total since the pandemic started to 2,401,916. There were 140 deaths and 21,974 new recoveries, bringing the running totals to 37,074 and 2,193,700.
Metro Manila is piloting an alert level system until Sept. 30 that allows mayors to implement lockdowns in specific streets or barangays to allow for the reopening of businesses while containing the virus.
All cities and one municipality in the capital region are under Alert Level 4, the second strictest under a five-step system.
Immunization czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country raised its vaccination target from 70% to 90% of the population to achieve herd immunity and prevent the further spread of the Delta variant.
In one of his weekly addresses, President Rodrigo Duterte said the general public could have access to the vaccine as early as October, as long as supplies permit. Doses are currently administered to healthchare workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, essential workers, and indigent populations.
The country received shipments of Sinovac, Moderna, Sputnik, and Pfizer jabs in the last week.
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