MANILA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines reported 1,555 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,941,656.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of active cases rose to 38,315, while 30 more patients died from COVID-19 complications, pushing the country's death toll to 62,849.
Metro Manila, the capital region with over 13 million people, tallied 738 new cases.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the number of coronavirus infections in Metro Manila and adjacent areas is on an "upward trend" while "plateauing" in the rest of the country.
Vergeire said the loosening of COVID-19 rules increased people's mobility and the opening of businesses and many sectors. She added the optional use of masks in open spaces and the resumption of schools also contributed to the uptick in new cases.
The Philippines reported its highest COVID-19 single-day tally of 39,004 new cases on Jan. 15. The country, with a population of around 110 million, has fully vaccinated over 73 million people. ■
