Philippines' COVID Death Toll Surpasses 20,000

The Philippines on Tuesday surpassed 20,000 COVID-19 deaths as it prepares to ramp up vaccination efforts in the second half of the year.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, the Philippines has totaled 20,019 COVID-19 deaths after reporting 36 new fatalities due to the virus on Tuesday, data from the Department of Health showed.

There were 3,972 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total active cases to 48,201. Total COVID-19 recoveries rose to 1,120,452 with 4,659 new ones reported.

The country's cumulative tally for COVID-19 cases stood at 1,188,672 as of Tuesday.

The Philippines was forced to revert to strict lockdowns in major urban hubs last April as it sought to control a surge in COVID-19 infections that overwhelmed its healthcare system.

As many as 15,000 COVID-19 cases a day were reported in April, the same month COVID-19 cases in the country topped one million.

It was only last week that the government largely eased restrictions in the Greater Manila Area after more than a month of strict quarantines. Until May 31, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal are under general community quarantine with "heightened restrictions."

Authorities have earlier said that more COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in the second quarter of the year as it gears up to expand the immunization program to economic frontliners, and the poor.

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At present, the country's COVID-19 vaccination program covers health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

President Rodrigo Duterte had said that with the help of vaccines, the Philippines could return to "normal," by 2023.

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