Philippines records 401 COVID-19 deaths, highest daily increase

April 9, 2021 - 4:57 PM
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A woman wearing a face mask and a face shield as a protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), prays outside the St. Peter Parish Shrine of Leaders in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, April 4, 2021. (Reuters/Lisa Marie David)

MANILA — The Philippines‘ health ministry on Friday reported 401 new coronavirus deaths, the highest single-day spike in fatalities since the start of the pandemic, and 12,225 additional infections.

In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed cases had risen to 840,554, while confirmed deaths had reached 14,520. It said 213 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

—Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales Editing by Ed Davies