The national task force against COVID-19 of the Philippines will extend the duration of pandemic prevention and control restrictions imposed in Metro Manila and other provinces until the end of January.

A COVID-19 patient under treatment at a hospital in Manila, Philippines (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The more infectious variant of Omicron is making the Philippines face an unprecedented increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases. The imposition of pandemic prevention measures is disrupting the country’s business activities and public services.

The Philippine Department of Health confirmed 34,021 new infections on January 13, the highest since the pandemic broke out in the nation, bringing its total caseload to 3.09 million. The death toll reached 52,736.

Source: VNA