The Philippines registered 272 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the biggest reported in one day since the outbreak began.

The Department of Health on Saturday said the country’s  total is now at 1,075, with fourteen more Filipinos dying of the disease and related complications. The country ‘s COVID-19 death toll now stands at 68.

The DOH said COVID-19 cases are bound to increase as five government laboratories are now conducting COVID-19 testings.  Previously only the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is the lone laboratory in the country that does the job.

On a more positive note, recoveries from COVID-19 jumped to 35 with four new cases adding to the list. 

The first patient who recovered was Patient 11, a 72-year-old Filipino from San Juan without travel and exposure history. The patient was symptomatic on March 7 and tested positive on March 9. He was discharged on March 27.

Patient 19, a 46-year-old Filipina from Pasig City with no travel history,  started to feel the symptoms on March 7 and tested positive for COVID-19 on March 9.  She was discharged on March 26, asymptomatic with two negative results. 

Patient 162 is a 55-year-old Filipino from Quezon City with no travel record. He showed symptoms of the disease on March 6 and tested positive on March 16. He was sent home on March 25, asymptomatic with two negative results.

Patient 235, a 30-year-old Filipino from Mandaluyong with no travel and exposure history, was symptomatic on March 11 and confirmed positive for COVID-19 on March 20.  He was discharged from the hospital on March 25, asymptomatic with two negative results. (RJ Espartinez)