MANILA — The Department of Health on Monday reported an additional 3,226 confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's cumulative total of coronavirus infections to 106,330.

With 275 additional recovered patients and 46 new COVID-related deaths, the total number of active cases in the country is now at 38,405, reaching similar levels in mid-July.

Total number of recoveries is at 65,821, while the death toll is 2,104.

The reported additional cases for the day are from tests done by only 66 out of 94 operational testing laboratories. It is the 5th highest number of additional cases reported in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Before that, the country had record-high cases that ranged from almost 4,000 to almost 5,000.

Majority of the new confirmed cases are from the National Capital Region, with 1,541. Cebu province logged 503 new infections, 181 from Laguna, 158 from Rizal, and 129 from Cavite.

On July 31, the government eased restrictions in Metro Manila and Cebu City where most of the new cases are coming from.

• READ: GCQ in Metro Manila extended until Aug. 15 even as COVID-19 cases increase

But following the plea of doctors and health workers overwhelmed with the rise in cases, Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan were placed under the slightly stricter modified enhanced community quarantine from Aug. 4 until Aug. 18.

The DOH said that majority or 79% of the additional cases happened in the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, of the 46 additional deaths, 37 happened in July, 6 in June, 2 in May and 1 in March. Majority or 38 are from Region 7, which includes Cebu; 3 are from NCR; 2 from CAR; and 1 each from Regions 3, 4A and 6.

There were 81 duplicate cases that were removed from the previous total count, including 10 who were counted as recovered.

“Moreover, we have updated the outcomes of two (2) cases. One (1) was previously reported as death but updated as recovered, and one (1) case was previously reported as recovered but updated as death after final validation; these are already included in the count of new deaths and recoveries,” the DOH said in its latest bulletin.

Researchers from the University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas estimate that cases may reach 150,000 by the end of August.

• READ: ‘Alarming’: If trend holds, COVID cases could reach 150K by August’s end, says UP prof