The Department of Health on Thursday, April 1, reported 8,920 new coronavirus cases in the Philippines.

The latest figure brings the country’s total cases to 756,199.

Since March 24, the Philippines has been logging daily cases above 6,000, indicating a continuous surge of COVID-19 infections.

Six new deaths were registered on Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths to 13,303.

A total of 205 new recoveries were recorded, bringing total recoveries to 603,948.

The country’s active cases stood at 138,948.

With the rising cases, available beds remained low. 76% of Metro Manila’s intensive care unit beds are utilized, while utilization is at 58% at the national level.

Metro Manila and nearby provinces Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite are currently under enhanced community quarantine, the strictest lockdown classification, up until April 4.

But the government is eyeing an extension of another week, with the Department of Health noting that incubation period of the coronavirus lasts up to two weeks. (READ: Waiting for data, some NCR mayors mull ECQ extension)

However, financial considerations may constrain the extension, as President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2021 budget does not have a line item for cash assistance.

Duterte is only giving P1,000 per person to P4,000 at most per family during the lockdown, which is from the unutilized funds from 2020’s Bayanihan Law allocations. – Rappler.com