Philippines reports over 26,000 Covid-19 cases, highest-ever daily count
Published: 03:09 PM,Sep 11,2021 | EDITED : 07:09 PM,Sep 11,2021
A health worker carries medical supplies at Sta Ana Hospital in Manila. -- Reuters
MANILA: The Philippines on Saturday reported more than 26,000 new Covid-19 cases, its highest-ever daily count.
The 26,303 cases brought the country's total caseload to more than 2.2 million, the Department of Health said.
The death toll rose by 79 to 34,978, it added.
The department has warned that cases would continue to rise due to the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Despite the rising infections, the government is preparing to ease restrictions in the capital region of Metro Manila to boost economic activity in the sprawling metropolis of more than 13 million people.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has said a new system would be implemented later in the month under which only high-risk areas, such as specific streets or buildings, will be placed under strict lockdown.
Local officials and business groups have also been urging the national government to relax restrictions for fully vaccinated people to encourage more people to get their Covid-19 jabs.
More than 15 million Filipinos, or over 13 per cent of the Philippines' total population, have so far been fully vaccinated.
The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 per cent of the population by end of the year, and up to 90 per cent by 2022. -- dpa
The 26,303 cases brought the country's total caseload to more than 2.2 million, the Department of Health said.
The death toll rose by 79 to 34,978, it added.
The department has warned that cases would continue to rise due to the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Despite the rising infections, the government is preparing to ease restrictions in the capital region of Metro Manila to boost economic activity in the sprawling metropolis of more than 13 million people.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has said a new system would be implemented later in the month under which only high-risk areas, such as specific streets or buildings, will be placed under strict lockdown.
Local officials and business groups have also been urging the national government to relax restrictions for fully vaccinated people to encourage more people to get their Covid-19 jabs.
More than 15 million Filipinos, or over 13 per cent of the Philippines' total population, have so far been fully vaccinated.
The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 per cent of the population by end of the year, and up to 90 per cent by 2022. -- dpa