The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines surged to 707 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed new cases with seven more deaths and two other patients recovering from the disease.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced at a virtual press briefing that the country’s COVID-19 death toll has risen to 45.

A total of 28 patients have already recovered from the disease.

The DOH earlier explained that the country’s increased testing capacity for COVID-19 is behind the sudden surge of cases this month after several sub-national laboratories became operational.

However, Duque said the number of cases is expected to increase.

The Philippine government has imposed an enhanced community quarantine on Luzon, suspending public transportation and other services, in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

President Rodrigo Duterte was also granted by Congress “emergency powers” to address the COVID-19 crisis./Stacy Ang