Philippines confirms 539 new coronavirus cases, largest single-day increase

May 28, 2020 - 5:16 PM
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A nurse gets a swab from a health worker in a booth set up in a hospital parking lot as the Philippines ramps up testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Manila, Philippines, April 15, 2020. (Reuters/Eloisa Lopez)

MANILA — The Philippines‘ health ministry on Thursday reported 17 more novel coronavirus deaths and 539 new infections, the largest number of cases reported in a single day since the virus was first detected in the country.

In a bulletin, the Department of Health said total infections have risen to 15,588 and deaths have reached 921. The number of recovered patients was 3,598.

An inter-agency panel on coronavirus has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte the easing of strict lockdown measures in the capital, which accounts for most of the coronavirus cases and deaths, to restart economic activity. —Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty