UPDATE 1-Philippines reports record rise of COVID-19 cases as curbs tightened

* Philippines logs more than 30,000 infections in four days
* Quarantine curbs could reduce new cases by 25% - spokesman
* Hospital capacity in capital near critical level

(Adds comments from the health ministry, presidential
spokesman)
MANILA, March 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Monday
reported a record daily rise of 8,019 COVID-19 infections, as
authorities implemented tighter curbs in the congested capital
region and hospital capacity neared critical levels in some
areas.
In a bulletin, the health ministry said total confirmed
cases had reached 671,792, while deaths increased by four to
12,972. It was the third time the Philippines has posted a fresh
high in daily cases in the past four days.
"Exercise extra caution to prevent the quick spread of
COVID-19 cases," the ministry said in a statement, urging people
to stay at home if possible.
Intensive care departments of hospitals in the capital were
nearing critical levels, government data showed.
The new wave of cases in the Philippines, which has the
second highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in
Southeast Asia, is also threatening hopes of a strong economic
rebound after a record contraction last year and the loss of
millions of jobs.
The spike in cases has pushed authorities to act and Monday
marked the start of a two-week tightening of restrictions in the
capital region, an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to at
least 13 million people, and four adjacent provinces.
Night curfews are also in place and social gatherings
limited to 10 people and indoor dining banned. Tighter measures could reduce the number of new cases by at
least 25%, presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a news
conference on Monday.
The Philippines, which launched its vaccination drive later
than neighbours at the start of this month, has received
delivery of 1.125 million donated doses of the Sinovac and
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) vaccines.
The government plans to roll out 140.5 million shots by
December, to inoculate 70 million adults as it seeks to achieve
herd immunity.

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