MANILA, April 26 (Reuters) - The Philippines announced on Monday (Apr 26) that the total number of COVID-19 cases it had recorded had exceeded 1 million as it continued to record thousands of new infections in the capital region, the epicentre of its latest outbreak.

The health ministry said that it recorded 8,929 COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total to more than 1 million, while fatalities increased to 16,853 after it recorded 70 new deaths.

The Philippines has the second-highest number of cases and deaths in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.