Philippines: 29% rise in virus cases over past week

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Philippines is all set to lift key lockdown measures in the nation's capital, even as it recorded nearly 29% rise in new coronavirus cases over the past week.

The Southeast Asian country has reported 4,051 new virus cases since May 24, an increase of 28.9%, according to daily Phil Star.

Some 862 new infections were registered on Sunday, taking the toll to 18,086, along with seven new deaths, bringing the tally to 957.

Health officials said a further 101 patients recovered from the disease. So far, 3,909 people have regained health and released from hospitals.

Thus, the number of active cases in the island country stand at 13,220.

-Ease in lockdown

President Rodrigo Duterte announced earlier this week that he is relaxing a lockdown in Manila, which is home to 12 million people and the country’s epicenter of virus infections.

The metropolitan will be placed under a more relaxed quarantine from Monday after more than two months of lockdown that restrained public mobility and most economic activities.

Under the new arrangement, more work and business operations, along with public transport, will resume but with physical distancing. Classes, however, will remain suspended.