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Philippines' COVID-19 cases breach 432,000 with 1,298 new infections

By JULIA MARI ORNEDO,GMA News

The Philippines’ coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caseload increased to 432,925 on Tuesday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,298 new infections as 15 laboratories failed to submit data on time.

The areas with the highest number of new infections were Ilocos Norte with 84, Manila City with 61, Quezon province with 55, Laguna with 50, and Negros Occidental with 47.

Total recoveries also rose to 398,782 after 135 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease, while the death toll climbed to 8,418 with 27 new fatalities.

“Nine cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths. In addition, there’s one case that was previously reported as death but has been validated as active case,” the DOH added.

There are also 25,725 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte extended

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until yearend the general community quarantine status of Metro Manila Batangas, Iloilo City, Tacloban City, Lanao del Sur, Iligan, and Davao City. 

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this was done to avoid a surge of infections over the holiday season. 

However, the government also loosened restrictions to allow minors accompanied by parents to go to malls. 

Experts from the OCTA Research group earlier said Metro Manila, the Davao Region, Calabarzon, and some parts of Central Luzon were the country’s “epicenters” of COVID-19. —LDF, GMA News