(Adds comment, details on cases on new variant cases)
MANILA, March 20 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Saturday
recorded 7,999 new coronavirus infections, the second straight
day that the country posted a record high in daily cases.
In a bulletin, the health ministry said total confirmed
cases have risen to 656,056 while confirmed deaths have reached
12,930, after 30 more were recorded on Saturday.
The Southeast Asian nation is battling a renewed surge in
infections, including those of the new and more transmissible
variants, delaying the further reopening of its
pandemic-stricken economy.
"The country's recorded COVID-19 cases remain high. Better
to stay home if going out is unnecessary," the ministry said.
The Philippines also logged 114 COVID-19 cases because of
new coronavirus variants, including six infections of the
homegrown P.3 variant, after a new series of genome sequencing
on 150 samples.
It reported 46 new infections of the B.1.1.7 variant first
detected in Britain, and 62 cases of the B.1.351 variant
discovered in South Africa. This brings cases for those variants
to 223 and 152, respectively.
The Philippines has the second-highest COVID-19 cases and
deaths in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia.
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Philippines battles new surge in COVID-19 infections
Philippines battles new surge in COVID-19 infections https://tmsnrt.rs/2QfvgPp
Philippines battles new surge in COVID-19 infections
Philippines battles new surge in COVID-19 infections https://tmsnrt.rs/3vwDMtq
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