MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:13 p.m.) — The Philippines on Monday recorded a total 3,660 confirmed coronavirus cases and 163 deaths as the main island of Luzon entered its fourth week of enhanced community quarantine that has shuttered businesses and schools and prohibited all mass gatherings.
The Department of Health reported 414 additional infections—a massive increase from the 152 cases registered on Sunday. The figure is forecast to continue rising as the country ramps up its testing efforts.
The department also logged 11 new deaths from the viral illness.
Nine more COVID-19 patients recovered, raising the number of recoveries in the Philippines to only 73.
Nearly 23,000 tests—which include retests and validations—have been conducted in the country.
Luzon lockdown likely to be extended
Government officials said the enhanced community quarantine is likely to be extended but no final decision has been raised yet.
DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said before the department recommends the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine, the agency will have to examine the trend of COVID-19 infections and the capacity of the country’s healthcare system.
“To prevent the occurrence of second wave or the surge of cases after the community quarantine is lifted which is being experienced in other nations, we should continue doing stringent measures such as physical distancing, cough etiquette, regular handwashing and avoidance of mass gathering,” she said in Filipino.
More than 1.2 million declared cases have been recorded in 191 countries and territories since the virus first emerged in China late last year. The number of fatalities globally reached 68,125.
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