MANILA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 291,789 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,635 new daily cases on Tuesday, the lowest in 15 days.
The DOH reported 1,383 new daily cases on Sept. 7.
The DOH said that the number of recoveries also rose to 230,643 after it reported 450 more patients have survived the disease.
The DOH added that 50 more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, bringing the death toll to 5,049.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said the government is doing everything it can to stem the spread of the COVID-19 as it waits for a vaccine.
Duterte appealed to the public to be patient until an effective inoculation becomes available.
"We are surviving. We are only waiting for the vaccine. Unless the vaccine is available and effective, the efficacy is proven, then we can say that we are moving far as we are," Duterte said in a public address late Monday night.
At the same time, Duterte urged the public anew to continue observing strict health protocols such as wearing a mask, face shield, and keeping a distance when out in public.
Duterte also assured the Filipinos that the government would raise the needed fund to purchase vaccines for mass immunization.
Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of the government's response to combat COVID-19, said that the government's policy that bans home quarantine helped stem the spread of the virus.
"Our strategy to involve the local government units in the COVID-19 response has worked in strengthening the testing capacity and the quarantine facilities at the community level," Galvez said.
Galvez said the Philippines now has 227,648 contact tracers all over the country. "We continue to strengthen the contact tracing teams," he added. Enditem
