* Record-high case spike in three of past five days
* Case surge challenging hospitals
* New vaccine delivery boosts scant inventory
* Poor compliance, new variants blamed for spike
(Adds comments from President Duterte)
By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA, March 29 (Reuters) - The Philippine passed the
10,000 mark for new daily coronavirus infections for the first
time on Monday and put its capital region back on one of its
toughest levels of lockdown, to try to tackle a spike in cases
that is testing its healthcare capacity.
Manila and surrounding provinces were put back under
enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the highest tier in its
containment protocols, for the first time since May 2020 to try
to quell the surge in cases, despite inroads late last year
towards controlling its epidemic.
The country recorded 10,016 new infections on Monday,
bringing the overall tally to 731,894, with deaths at 13,186,
one of the highest caseloads in Asia.
Health experts say the surge in infections underscores the
need to expedite a national vaccination drive, with only 656,331
healthcare workers so far given their first of two shots. The
government aims to inoculate 70 million people this year.
It has also struggled to secure vaccine supplies, with an
inventory of 2.525 million doses, mostly of Sinovac Biotech 's
SVA.O vaccine, one million of which arrived on Monday.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday allowed the
private sector to import vaccines to boost supply and help
reopen the economy.
"Whatever the cost, whatever the volume they want to bring
in, it's fine with me," Duterte said in a national address.
Prior to Duterte's approval, businesses go through the
government for supply deals. Previously, half of the purchased
doses were required to be given to the government.
Health authorities blame the spike on poor public compliance
with prevention measures and the presence of new and more
transmissible coronavirus variants in the capital region, which
accounts for about a third of economic activity.
"This surge is really challenging while ECQ is painful
particularly for the economic sector," said Benjamin Co, an
infectious disease expert with three Manila hospitals.
The Philippines was the first country in Asia to go under a
nationwide lockdown and broad restrictions and movement curbs
saw its economy slump 9.5% last year, its worst economic
contraction on record.
Hospitals' intensive care and isolation bed capacity in the
capital region have reached critical levels or above 70% usage,
government data showed.
"I can give you beds, I can give you rooms. The problem is I
cannot give you additional manpower capacity, like nurses and
doctors to take care of you," Co added.
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Philippines' new COVID-19 infections spike as capital region
enters tighter restrictions Philippines' new COVID-19 infections
spike as capital region enters tighter restrictions https://tmsnrt.rs/2QfvgPp
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