Philippines logs 539 new COVID-19 cases, highest ever in a day

The Philippines logged 539 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Thursday, the highest number of new cases reported so far, bringing the total to 15,588.

The Department of Health (DOH) also announced that total recoveries rose to 3,598 after 92 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 921 with 17 new fatalities.

Among the new cases, 330 or 61 percent were from Metro Manila, 55 were from Region VII, 55 were repatriates, while the remaining 99 patients were spread out across the country.

Last week, the DOH said that the “first major wave” of infections peaked on March 31 when 538 new cases were reported.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that the spike in infections this week was driven by the DOH’s increased capacity to validate cases after more encoders were hired.

“Inaasahan pa rin po natin sa na sa mga darating na araw maaari pa rin pong tumaas ang ating mga kaso dahil patuloy na po tayong nakakapag-validate ng ating mga kaso,” she said in a virtual press briefing.

 Vergeire earlier said the DOH seeks to clear some 3,600 testing backlogs by Thursday night. 

She added that 33 out of the 43 licensed laboratories nationwide now had zero backlog. The DOH is awaiting updates from the remaining 10 testing centers.

The DOH said that the country’s case doubling time had slowed to seven days compared to two to three days when COVID-19 first broke out in the Philippines. 

Meanwhile, Malacañang said Metro Manila is “ready” to move to a more relaxed general community quarantine starting June 1 after the inter-agency COVID-19 task force recommended the shift. 

Duterte is set to address the nation Thursday night on the fate of the modified enhanced community quarantine, which will expire on May 31. —LDF/NB, GMA News