MANILA (REUTERS) - The Philippines recorded 7,757 additional Covid-19 cases on Sunday (March 21), the second-highest single-day increase in the South-east Asian nation since the pandemic began.
The daily tally follows Saturday's record infections and marks the third straight day confirmed new cases topped 7,000.
The Philippines is battling a renewed surge in infections, including those of the new and more transmissible variants, prompting the government to tighten restrictions particularly in the capital region.
In a bulletin, the Department of Health (DOH) said total recorded cases had risen to 663,794 while confirmed deaths had reached 12,968, with 39 more fatalities recorded on Sunday.
Total recoveries increased by 15,288 to 577,754.
The DOH advised the public to suspend non-essential travel and ensure adherence to minimum public health standards, which includes the wearing of masks even at home when not alone.
"We need to ensure that our hospitals do not get overwhelmed, so everyone must act with extreme vigilance and help reduce transmission by consistently adhering to our preventive measures," it said.
The Philippines will also expand tighter Covid-19 restrictions to include four provinces surrounding the capital region, President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman said on Sunday, as the country battles a renewed surge in infections.
The restrictions currently in effect in Metropolitan Manila will also be imposed in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, including night curfews and the prohibition of mass gatherings, the spokesman added.
Only essential travel to and from the capital region and the four provinces, which the spokesman called the bubble area, will be allowed.
"This is not hard lockdown," he said in a virtual briefing. "But we have additional restrictions." Gatherings will be allowed for weddings, baptisms, and funeral services, but limited to a maximum of 10 people.
Travel will remain unimpeded within the bubble area but only individuals 18 to 65 years old are allowed outdoors.
Travel to and from the bubble area is limited to health and emergency frontline services personnel, government officials and government frontline personnel, persons travelling for medical and humanitarian reasons and those going to the airport to travel abroad.
Restaurants will remain open but only for delivery, take-out, and outdoor dining services.
