Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Philippines has seen an accelerated increase in the spread of the epidemic. On 16 August in the country, 6.2 thousand cases of infection were detected, which broke the record for the daily increase in the incidence. The Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan reports.

According to the Philippine Ministry of Health, the total number of cases of infection has already reached 157 thousand, 159 people have died.

Moreover, the National Center for Genome Research reported that in some cases in Quezon City, a mutated strain of coronavirus was found that is more infectious than the original version of the infection.

In this regard, the Philippine government has tightened quarantine measures 1) restricted the movement of citizens; 2) the movement of public transport is suspended; 3) the work of some industrial and commercial enterprises was partially stopped. It is noted that only part of the personnel of government structures will be able to go to work, while other employees will work from home.

Addressing the nation the President of the Philippines R. Duterte, to demonstrate the seriousness of his words, said that "he orders the police and the army to ‘shoot to death’ at the violators of the coronavirus quarantine."

Commenting on the introduction of quarantine restrictions by the government, experts highlight the following factors.

1) Restrictions have been tightened in the hardest hit areas. In particular, the worst situation is observed in Manila, Cavita, Laguna and Rizal, where the number of infections has exceeded 70 thousand. There is an acute shortage of hospital beds.

2) The previously imposed strict measures undermined the country’s economy, which forced the authorities to maintain economic activity in regions with a more stable epidemiological situation. The country’s economy fell into a recession for the first time in 29 years, about 7 million people. lost their jobs, inflation peaked at 2.7%. GDP shrank by 16.5%.

In general, according to experts, the main task of Manila remains to maintain control in the foci of a repeated outbreak of the virus and to quickly determine its sources. It is noted that due to a sharp decline in economic indicators, the authorities will be forced to significantly reduce the GDP forecast for 2020.