Metro Manila is the hardest-hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the country, a government official said.

Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the government’s national policy against the COVID-19, said more than half of the country’s COVID-19  infections are in the National Capital Region (NCR).

As of Thursday, there were more than 1,500 reported positive cases of COVID-19.

According to statistical data, Metro Manila has a current population of almost 13 million people.

South of Metro Manila, Calabarzon has the second highest number of coronavirus cases with 178, said Galvez.

It is followed by Central Luzon with 65, Davao Region with 61, and Central Visayas with 36.

Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, meanwhile, are the least affected by the crisis with each 1 reported coronavirus case, Galvez said.

In Metro Manila, Quezon City, the country’s most populous city, reported the most number of coronavirus infections at 439, with 27 deaths, according to the data collected by the government.

It is followed by Manila with 180 cases, including 10 deaths; Makati City with 144 cases, including 4 deaths; San Juan City with 119 cases, including 8 deaths; and Pasig City with 112 cases, including 6 deaths.

The least affected localities in Metro Manila are Pateros and Navotas, recording 6 and 1 cases, respectively.

As of Thursday, April 2, the Philippines has recorded 2,633 COVID-19 cases, authorities said.

The total figure includes 107 deaths and 51 people who recovered from the virus, which originated last year in Wuhan City in Hubei province, China.

Meanwhile, Galvez said the latest number of new cases —- 322 —-on April 2 was lower than the highest number of new cases in a day, which was 538, recorded on March 31.

Galvez was also expecting an increase in recoveries in the coming weeks as 500 of the COVID-19 cases were in the country’s top hospitals.

“If you’ll see the data, the increase of the new cases has been 322 which is lower than the highest cases that we have last few days ago of 538,” Galvez said.

“This is a good sign that we are gaining the battle despite the many tests that we have right now,” he added.

The number of cases recorded on April 2 was higher than the number recorded on April 1, which was 227.

According to Galvez, authorities are also aiming to decrease the death rate and increase the rate of patient recoveries./Stacy Ang