The Philippines saw its biggest spike in coronavirus cases on Thursday with 539 new infections recorded, just after a panel recommended the president ease one of the toughest and longest lockdowns in the world for residents in the capital Manila. President Rodrigo Duterte will announce a decision on Thursday whether to lift strict restrictions on commerce and movement to reduce damage to the economy, which is facing its deepest contraction in 34 years. Manila’s lockdown will this weekend surpass the 76-day quarantine of Wuhan, the Chinese city where the first outbreak of the coronavirus was detected.
