Close to 72,800 people tested for COVID-19 in PH, as gov't continues to ramp up testing

MANILA--Close to 72,800 people have been tested for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines, as the government continues to ramp up its testing to curb the pathogen, a health official said Saturday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing that 72,794 people in the country have been tested.

"Ito ay mga individuals na tinetest natin," she said, noting that in some instances persons are tested twice for medical clarification.

The Department of Health earlier in the day logged 102 new coronavirus infections, raising the country’s tally to 7,294. Of that, 494 have died and 792 others recovered.

The new cases are the lowest reported in a single day since April 4, when 76 cases were reported.

But Vergeire said total positive tests might be higher than total confirmed cases, according to the DOH case verification.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier extended the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other parts of the country until May 15 in attempts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Philippines has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, preceded by Indonesia which has more than 8,200 infections.