Metro Manila has most COVID-19 cases with over 1,500 -Galvez

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remained most prevalent in Metro Manila with over 1,500 cases since its started spreading in the country, policy chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez said on Thursday.

At a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday, Galvez said the concentration of the viral disease remained in the National Capital Region, particularly in Quezon City, Manila, Makati and San Juan.

Quezon City has more than six percent of the cases.

Navotas, Pateros and Malabon are the areas least affected by the virus.

"This means na 'yong nasa northern side ay 'di gaano affected. Basically, 'yong nasa gitna and sa bandang area ng Quezon City, Manila, Makati and San Juan ang nakikita nating top areas," Galvez said.

In the regions outside Metro Manila, Galvez said spread of the virus was strong in Southern Tagalog with 179 COVID-19 cases and 10 fatalities.

He also cited the spread of the infection in Central Luzon, which he said had been continuous because of its proximity to Manila. It now has 65 COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths.

Galvez also said the cases in Regions 11, 8, 2, 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region had been increasing over the past days.

"Ang pinaka mahina ang affectation is nasa area ng Region 9, Region 12, Region 5 sa Bicol area and also in Region 8," Galvez  said.

Galvez said he was confident there will be an increase in recovery in the following weeks because more than 500 COVID-19 patients are located in "best hospitals."

The Philippines has so far recorded a total of 2,633 cases of COVID-19, including 107 fatalities and 51 recoveries. -NB, GMA News