The country’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case tally increased to 621,498 after 4,899 more people contracted the viral illness, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday, March 14.
The number of active cases stood at 48,157 or 7.7 percent of the overall tally.
Also, the death toll climbed to 12,829 after 63 more fatalities were reported, the DOH said.
The Health department said 13,371 more patients were cleared of coronavirus infection, bringing the total number of survivors to 560,512.
Researchers from the OCTA Research Group warned on Sunday that the country might see 8,000 new COVID-19 cases per day by the end of March if the rise in infections continues.
Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, a member of the technical working group advising the DOH, reminded the public anew not to be complacent and follow the health protocols in order to protect themselves against the disease.
“Mahirap ibintang na ang variants lang ang may kasalanan. Sa ating pang-araw-araw siguro naoobserbahan natin ang isa’t-isa marami ng hindi nasunod sa tamang pagsuot ng mask and shield, syempre factor din iyan, pwedeng magkaroon ng pagkalat ng sakit (It is difficult to blame that the rise in cases is due to variants alone. As we observed, many people do not follow the proper wearing of masks and (face) shields, of course that is also a factor, it may cause the spread of the disease),” said Ong-Lim in a radio interview on Sunday.