Philippines reports 1,923 new COVID-19 cases, 4th straight day of less than 2,000 infections
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E-mail Xinhua, October 23, 2020
MANILA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has climbed to 365,799, after the country's Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,923 new cases on Friday, the fourth straight day with less than 2,000 daily infections.
The DOH reported 1,640 new cases on Oct. 20, 1,509 on Oct. 21, 1,664 on Oct. 22.
The DOH said 424 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 312,691. The death toll climbed to 6,915 after 132 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH added.
The health department said it had tested over 4.24 million people in the Philippines so far. The Philippines has a population of about 110 million.
Metro Manila, home to approximately 15 million people, remains the epicenter of the outbreak in the Philippines, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano.
Ano said he supports the move to retain the lockdown restriction until the end of the year.
"People get together and party during the Christmas season. The risk of transmission is high if we allow that," Ano, the vice-chair of the national task force on COVID-19, told reporters on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Philippines will allow entry of foreign nationals holding investors visas starting on Nov. 1.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced on nationwide television on Friday that only investors visa holders will be allowed entry. "Ordinary foreign tourists" are still barred from visiting, he added.
Roque said the foreigners must have a pre-booked accredited quarantine facility before entering the country.
"They must be subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at the port and date of entry, and must follow applicable immigration laws, rules and regulations," Roque added.
On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the inter-agency task force on emerging infectious diseases is studying the possibility of allowing entry to foreign nationals from countries with low virus transmission and those that opened their borders to Filipinos.
The Philippines has already allowed Filipinos to make non-essential travels abroad. Enditem
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