The Philippines government on Sunday said it would reimpose tougher restrictions in and around the capital, Metro Manila, in a bid to curb further spread of COVID-19.

President Rodrigo Duterte spokesman Harry Roque told reporters that a two-week stricter lockdown will begin from 4 August.

Reuters reports Roque to say President Duterte had approved a placing Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan under so-called "Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine" until 18 August.

The move comes as the number of COVID-19 infections in Southeast Asian country hit 103,185 with 2,059 deaths.

A recent spike in new cases prompted calls by local groups representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses to have the government introduce stricter measures against the disease.