Health workers prepare for free COVID-19 tests at a slum area in Manila, the Philippines on July 28, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 83,673 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,678 new cases on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
MANILA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 83,673 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,678 new cases on Tuesday.
The DOH said that the number of recoveries further rose to 26,617 after 173 more patients have survived the disease.
The death toll also increased to 1,947 after four more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH said.
The Philippines saw an uptick in coronavirus infections after quarantine restrictions were loosened in early June to restart the economy.
The DOH has said the steady rise of cases is due to "community transmission in areas with poor compliance of minimum health standards" and the increase in detection due to the government's expanded testing capacity.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that it is not wise to further reopen the economy at this time, adding that the country is not yet ready to further ease the quarantine restrictions.
