The Philippines posted 284 new positive cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), elevating the country’s total number to 14,319, a week before the expiration of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday.
171 cases or 60 percent of the new cases came from Metro Manila, 70 cases came from Region VII, while the remaining 43 COVID-19 patients came from various areas across the country.
In a bit of good news, recoveries increased to 3,323 with 74 more patients winning the battle against the virus.
Fatalities, on the other hand, inches to 873 after the DOH’s daily bulletin confirmed 5 new deaths.
After the two-month hard lockdown, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that the country is now ready to run more than 30,000 tests per day, targeting the completion of tests by May 30 amidst limited operational laboratories due to shortage of supplies and staff as confirmed by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
According to DOH data, as of May 23, the 42 accredited laboratories in the country were only able to process 8,283 samples and test 7,283 unique individuals. There are 4,166 backlogs remaining.
Singapore remains the country with the most number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia at 31,960. Indonesia followed behind with 22,750 trailed by the Philippines. (RJ Espartinez)