Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 17) — The Department of Health reported Sunday 208 more cases of coronavirus in the country, bringing the total number of coronavirus infections to 12,513.
Of the new cases, 174 were in Metro Manila, which is on its second day of relaxed quarantine measures that allowed for the reopening of malls and let people go out of their homes for non-contact sports, like jogging.
The same easier quarantine measures, which the government calls modified enhanced community quarantine, are being implemented in Bulacan, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Angeles City in Pampanga.
Central Visayas reported one new case, while 33 new cases are in other areas, according to the DOH.
Seven more died due to the disease, bringing the death toll to 824. Meanwhile, 74 more people have recovered from coronavirus, raising the number of those who have survived to 2,635.
Data from the DOH shows that it has tested 184,857 people for coronavirus, 16,393 of whom have tested positive as of May 16. The DOH explains that the number of those who test positive is higher than the number of confirmed cases because the results of those who test positive still need to be validated before being included in the tally of confirmed cases.
The country can now conduct at least 8,670 tests daily, according to data from the DOH, and officials plan to ramp up the testing capacity to 30,000 by the end of the month.
Much of the country is now under more relaxed quarantine measures, with only the cities of Cebu and Mandaue in Cebu province under enhanced community quarantine, where the movement of people is strictly limited to accessing basic goods and services.
However, DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines that quarantine rules may be stiffened up again if they see another surge in new cases.
Globally, coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, has infected 4.6 million and killed more than 311,000 according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University which is based on data reported by governments.
