Philippines' Duterte to relax coronavirus curbs in capital region

MANILA - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday approved the easing of coronavirus curbs in the capital region from Aug. 21 to 31, his spokesperson said, even as the country reported its second-highest daily number of COVID-19 infections.

The Philippines is battling a renewed surge in infections and deaths, partly driven by the more contagious Delta variant, overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers. The capital region, an urban sprawl of 16 cities with more than 13 million people, will be placed under the second- strictest level of coronavirus restrictions, after being on tight lockdown since Aug. 6, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.