MANILA, Philippines (Update 1, 5:44 p.m.) — The number of novel coronavirus infections in the country surpassed the 7,000 mark Friday as the national government extended the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other “high-risk” areas to further slow the spread of the contagion.
To date, 7,192 people have contracted the virus that causes coronavirus disease with the addition of 211 cases.
Related Stories
The total number of COVID-19 survivors increased to 762 with the recovery of 40 more patients.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health also recorded 15 additional deaths related to COVID-19. This raised the country’s death toll to 477.
Currently, the number of individuals who have been tested in the country stood at 68,765. Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH spokesperson, said the country is now capable of conducting 4,500 tests a day.
Extended ECQ
COVID-19 cases remain largely concentrated in outbreak epicenter Metro Manila, accounting for around 68% of the nation’s total cases.
Meanwhile, there are 1,553 cases in the rest of Luzon, 438 cases in Visayas and 170 cases in Mindanao. Some 154 cases are still being validated.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the government’s coronavirus task force to maintain the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila as well as Central Luzon, Calabarzon, provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet, Albay, and the islands of Mindoro and Catanduanes until May 15.
Other high-risk areas which may be covered by the extended lockdown are the provinces of Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Zambales but will be re-evaluated by the end of the month.
The situations in Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Cebu City, Davao Del Norte and Davao City will be subject for rechecking.
Meanwhile, the areas identified as “moderate and low risk” will be under general community quarantine beginning May 1.
“We are improving our case doubling time but we need to understand that ECQ is not the solution to COVID-19. ECQ is only giving us time to strengthen our health system,” Vergeire said in Filipino.
The coronavirus pandemic has already infected more than 2.7 million people worldwide, including 190,985 deaths.
Related video: