COVID-19 cases in Philippines exceed 1,000, with 272 new cases recorded

The number of COVID-19 cases in Philippines has exceeded 1,000, with 272 new cases reported on Saturday, the biggest rise in a single day. The Department of Health said the country's total is now at 1,075, with 68 recorded deaths and 35 recovered patients as of 4:00 p.m. local time March 28.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said late Friday night that an inter-agency group enforcing a lockdown on the main island of Luzon, including Metro Manila, has directed the local government units and departments "to identity government facilities that may be temporarily converted into isolation or quarantine facilities" for COVID-19 cases.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte celebrated his 75th birthday on Saturday under home quarantine, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

Panelo said that Duterte's birthday wish is for the Filipinos to stay at home and the total eradication of the COVID-19.

On Tuesday night, Duterte declared "a state of national emergency" in the entire Philippines as the country grapples with more COVID-19 cases.