The Philippines on Monday logged a new all-time high for the third day straight with 33,169 new COVID-19 cases, surpassing the 30,000 mark for the first time since the pandemic began.
The day's tally brought active cases to 157,526, with a total of 3,725 new recoveries and 145 new deaths reported, data from the Department of Health showed. It broke the previous all-time high of 28,707 cases the day before.
Overall, a total of 2,998,530 COVID-19 cases have been reported since the pandemic began in March 2020, of which 2,788,711 have recovered and 52,293 died.
Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and several provinces and cities is expected to last until Jan. 15.
Several malls in Metro Manila have adjusted their operating hours, while commuters and motorists were required to present vaccination cards at checkpoints in the capital region and in Bulacan to help cap the surge in infections. Banks also shortened operating hours.
Health Sec. Francisco Duque III on Saturday floated the possibility of raising Metro Manila's quarantine status to Alert Level 4 as authorities move to cap the surge.
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