Philippines: Covid-19 total goes past 500,000; govt to receive free vaccines from China

In this photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, chats with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a courtesy call at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines on Saturday Jan. 16, 2021. Wang is in Manila as part of his Southeast Asian tour that included visits to Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei to promote China's relations in the region. - AP

MANILA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua): The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines on Sunday reported 1,895 new confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, bringing the total number in the country to 500,577.

The death toll climbed to 9,895 after 11 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. It added 5,868 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 465,991.