Philippines logs 8,147 new COVID-19 cases, total rises to 1,588,965

2021-07-31 09:35:20 GMT2021-07-31 17:35:20(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

MANILA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 8,147 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,588,965.

The death toll climbed to 27,889 after 167 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the highly infectious Delta variant is driving the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

The country has detected 216 Delta cases so far and eight have died. Vergeire confirmed local transmission of the Delta variant in the Philippines but insisted on no community transmission yet.

The Philippines will re-impose the strictest lockdown rules in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to 20 to curb the spread of the virus.

"The enhanced community quarantine is a preventive move to prevent the further spread and delay the spread of the (Delta) variant," Vergeire added.

The Philippines, which has around 110 million population, has tested more than 15 million people since the outbreak in January 2020. Enditem

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