DOH announces 343 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 1,418

7 recoveries also reported, most in a day

MANILA (UPDATE) - The total number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in the country climbed to 1,418 on Sunday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 343 new cases. This is by far the most number of new cases in a single day, breaking the 272 new cases announced on Saturday.The death toll in the country, meanwhile, reached 71 after the DOH recorded 3 new deaths.

Among the new fatalities was a 78-year-old Filipino male from Manila, a 71-year-old male from Iloilo and a 70-year-old male from Quezon City. The number of recoveries, meanwhile, is now at 42 after 7 patients were cured, the DOH said. The new recovered patients were a 13-year-old female from Quezon City, a 32-year-old female from Makati City, a 35-year-old male from Quezon City, a 41-year-old male from Tarlac, a 35-year-old male from Caloocan City, a 44-year-old male from Pasig City, and a 33-year-old male from San Juan City.

The Philippine government imposed a lockdown on Luzon until April 12, suspending public transportation and ordering millions to stay at home, to curb the spread of COVID-19. As of March 28, the fast spreading pathogen has infected more than 570,000 worldwide, with over 26,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Countries around the globe have imposed strict travel measures to arrest contamination of COVID-19, which has sent governments and their citizens reeling due to its rapid spread.