Apr. 9

Global COVID-19 infections hit 1,502,478, about a week after hitting the 1 million mark

Apr. 11

The Department of Health changes the classifications for persons being checked for COVID-19 to “suspect” and “probable” for patients under investigation, and “confirmed” for those with positive results

Apr. 12

The Philippines increases its testing centers to 15

Apr. 14

The country records 5,223 COVID-19 cases, 335 fatalities and 295 recoveries

Start of “progressive mass testing,” where high-risk patients (people with severe flulike symptoms, the elderly, those with preexisting health conditions, pregnant women with mild symptoms and healthcare workers with respiratory symptoms) are prioritized

Apr. 15

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is accredited as the country’s 16th testing center

As the worldwide tally passes 2 million infections, the US leads in terms of the number of cases at 609,696

Apr. 17

The country gets its 17th COVID-19 testing facility following the accreditation of Chinese General Hospital

Apr. 18

COVID-19 cases in the country surge past the 6,000 mark to 6,087 after 209 new patients are reported; some 42,000 individuals have been tested to date

Apr. 24

The lockdown in the Philippines is extended to May 15, with Metro Manila and other “high-risk areas” remaining under “enhanced community quarantine” (ECQ)

The cases reach 7,192, with 762 recoveries and 477 deaths

Apr. 25

The Philippine Genome Center in UP Diliman becomes the 18th COVID-19 testing facility

Apr. 27

The global total passes 3 million, some 12 days after breaching the 2 million mark

Apr. 29

The addition of 254 new cases pushes the Philippines past the 8,000 mark with 8,212 confirmed COVID-19 patients; the number of recoveries also tops 1,000 with 1,023 cases

Apr. 30

Three months after logging its first case, the country now has a total of 8,488 COVID-19 patients, 1,043 recoveries and 568 deaths

May 1

Recoveries reach 1 million globally

May 3

Cases ease past the 9,000 mark to 9,223 even as 90 recoveries are reported, bringing the country’s total recoveries to 1,214

COVID-19 testing centers have been increased to 22, including the PRC’s second lab, Marikina COVID-19 Test Center, Philippine General Hospital and Singapore Diagnostic Inc.

May 4

The global COVID-19 tally surpasses 3.5 million, with Europe and the US accounting for some 1.5 million and 1.1 million cases, respectively

May 5

The Philippines opens the Palacio de Maynila “mega swabbing center,” which can test up to 1,500 individuals daily, ahead of plans to ramp up testing to 30,000 a day by the end of May

May 6

The Enderun Tent in Taguig is designated as the second mega swabbing center

The Philippines tallies a total of 10,004 COVID-19 patients, 1,506 recoveries and 658 deaths

May 8

The MOA Arena is transformed into a mega swabbing center for the southern sector

May 9

Some 500,000 additional cases over five days increase the global COVID-19 tally to 4 million

May 10

For the first time, the country hits its target of 8,000 daily tests after running 8,637 tests. Thus far, it has run 173,144 tests on 158,176 individuals

May 11

With 292 new cases, the country passes the 11,000 mark. Meanwhile, COVID-19 testing centers are increased to 26

May 12

Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City are placed under a two-week “modified ECQ,” where more businesses and industries are allowed to restart