A COVID-19 vaccination site in Marikina city of the Philippines on March 2, 2021 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Meanwhile, the death tollclimbed to 12,766 after 72 more patients succumbed to the coronavirus disease,the DOH said.
It added that 281 morepatients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 547,166.
This ministry also urgedvigilance as more transmissible coronavirus variants have occurred.
Also on March 13, the Philippines confirmed the first case of the COVID-19 variant first identified in Brazil.
The DOH said the P.1 variant was found in an overseas Filipino returning who from Brazil.
The country also recorded an additional 59 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant found in the UK, bringing the total number to 177. Meanwhile, 32 cases of the B.1.351 variant discovered in South Africa were reported, raising the number of cases for this variant to 90, according to the ministry.
The government blamed thespike in the infection number on people's failure to comply with personalprotective measures such as wearing masks and face shields properly and keepinga distance when outside their homes.
Metro Manila authorities hadimposed two-week lockdowns in several densely-populated communities in thecapital with surging clusters of infections and a two-week curfew, from 10 pmto 5 am, starting on March 15 to control mobility.
The Philippines, which has the second-highest COVID-19 cases and deathsin Southeast Asia, started a vaccination drive on March 1./.
VNA
