Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 7) — The Department of Health attributes the surge in coronavirus cases in the past few days to the “lack of implementation” of health protocols.

“We are not experiencing a second wave but an increase in the number of positive cases due to the increase in testing and because there is community transmission because of lack of implementation of health standards,” Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday.

The country has been recording more than 1,000 cases daily in the past few days. The highest single-day jump was recorded on July 5 with 2,434 new cases. Of this, 1,147 are “fresh” cases. or were detected in the last three days, while 1,287 are part of the validation backlog.

READ: Philippines records highest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases at 2,434; total exceeds 44,000

On Tuesday, 1, the DOH reported 1,540 new cases, bringing the total count to 47,873. Of the new cases, 993 are fresh, while 547 are late cases.

With this, the department reminded the public to strictly observe minimum health standards, like wearing of masks, social distancing, proper washing of hands, and limit travelling to essentials only.

This is also due to the new coronavirus strain, which is seen to be more infectious.

Vergeire said this “can spread faster and overwhelm our healthcare system” and can lead to more deaths if it is not managed.

“Mutations do occur with COVID-19 virus and this particular one is more common… and it seems to be more infectious. We are continuing to monitor this development and our scientists are sequencing some of our local viruses as we speak,” she added.

Local infectious diseases expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said this new mutation of the virus may be a contributor to the “definite increase” of cases in the country.

Salvaña also warned that the new strain might have reached the country already.

READ: New coronavirus strain might have reached the country, expert says