According to the Department of Health (DoH) of Philippines, the country now has 203,710 active cases of COVID-19, after 11,101 new cases were recorded over the last 24 hours. This brings the total confirmed cases to 926,000 so far. Meanwhile, 72 more people were reported dead taking the total death toll to 15,810.

For nearly a week, Philippines has been recording more than 10,000 new cases every day and Metro Manila has emerged as a major hot spot for the virus. But in some relief, the daily positivity rate dropped to just over 17 percent after peaking at 25 percent on April 2 this year.

Meanwhile, the south eastern nation has extended the ban on the entry of foreigners till April 30. The ban that came into place on March 22 was to be lifted on April 21, but given the fresh surge in cases the ban has been extended, though there are some exceptions like diplomats, foreigners engaged in medical services, children of Filipino citizens travelling with them.

*Feature Image: File image of View of Manila Bay and Roxas Boulevard skyline from Fort San Felipe, Sangley Point, Cavite City, Cavite by Patrick Roque via Wikimedia Commons.