By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines registered 7,103 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, a record daily rise in infections, while authorities restricted restrictions on coronavirus in the capital and approved the Russian vaccine Sputnik V COVID-19 for emergency use.
A new wave of cases in the Philippines, which has the second highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in Southeast Asia, is threatening hopes for a strong economic recovery after a record contraction last year and the loss of millions of jobs .
The health ministry said there are now 648,066 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 12,900 deaths, including another 13 deaths on Friday.
“The ministry continues to appeal to us to stay at home and avoid leaving if it is not necessary,” the statement said. The previous record was 6,958 cases on August 10.
The latest outbreak is again concentrated in the congested region of Manila and includes the most communicable variants.
The coronavirus task force on Friday reduced the number allowed at religious meetings and conferences to 30% of the capacity of the previous 50% by April 4.
He also ordered the closing of cinemas, driving schools, libraries, museums and cockfighting arenas.
The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Russia on Friday.
The first deliveries of Russia’s Sputnik V are expected in April, the head of the Russian sovereign fund RDIF, which markets the injection abroad, told Reuters.
“We have great demand for Sputnik vaccines from 52 countries where we are registered, but we will prioritize the Philippines and deliver the first volumes in April,” said RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev.
Sputnik V is the fourth attempt to obtain authorization for emergency use after vaccines from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac.
Carlito Galvez, responsible for purchasing vaccines in the Philippines, said on Friday that the government would request Russia to deliver about three million doses in April and May.
“The known and potential benefits of the Gamaleya Sputnik V vaccine … outweigh the known and potential risks,” said FDA chief Rolando Enrique Domingo, adding that provisional data showed that the vaccine was 91.6% effective in groups of 18 years or older.
Vaccine manufacturers in the United States Moderna and Johnson & Johnson asked questions about the documents required for emergency use approval, but have not yet filed applications, said Sunday.
The Philippines launched its inoculation campaign on March 1 and received delivery of 1.125 million doses of the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines.
The government plans to launch 140.5 million vaccines by December, to inoculate 70 million adults in an attempt to obtain collective immunity.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Ed Davies and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)