The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday that the number of cases of positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country has increased by 181 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 7,958.

“As of 4PM today, April 28, 2020, the Department of Health reports 181 new cases (PH7778-7958) of COVID-19. The total number of cases in the country is now at 7,958,” said DOH Case Bulletin #045.

The DOH also said there are 19 new COVID-19-related fatalities, bringing the total death toll to 530.

The DOH also announced 43 new recoveries, raising the total to 975.

The country’s first COVID-19 case was reported in late January, around a month since the disease was believed to have first emerged from China.

Data from the DOH as of Saturday show that 76,030 people have so far been tested for COVID-19, 87.6 percent of whom tested negative while 12.2 percent were positive.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said testing centers across the country are now operating 16 hours a day as the government moves to meet its target testing capacity of 8,000 daily by the end of the month.

President Rodrigo Duterte has also ordered the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Science and Technology to augment their workforce in order to operate “day and night.”/Stacy Ang