ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) logged 17 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas on April 3, the lowest number of fresh cases recorded in a single day in the region.
These were all local cases – seven from Iloilo province, five from Bacolod City, three from Negros Occidental, and two from Capiz.
The total active cases in the region as of April 3 were 2,654.
Majority or 59.08 percent of the total active cases were asymptomatic, 31.69 percent were mild, 4.90 percent were moderate, 3.96 percent were severe, and 0.38 percent were critical.
These active cases comprised 1.4 percent of the total confirmed cases recorded in the region (183,238) while majority or 95.5 percent (174,952 cases) have recovered from the disease. Three percent or 5,539 cases died.
DOH-6 registered a significant decrease in the daily average cases in the region to an average of 51 cases daily this March from 350 cases in February and 828 daily cases in January.
The drop could be attributed to vaccination, according to Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, DOH Region 6 spokesperson.
The slowdown in infections is also reflected in the drop in the region’s healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) – 24.44 percent down.
According to Te, this resulted to Western Visayas being classified as a “low risk” region.
Another good news: “Most cases are asymptomatic. Wala na masyado severe and critical cases because nagpabakuna ang mga tawo.”
Despite these improving pandemic figures, Te reminded Western Visayans not to get complacent and still continue to observe the minimum public health standards, especially the wearing of facemask, physical distancing and proper washing of hands or disinfection.
Te also urged persons no yet vaccinated against COVID-19 to have themselves inoculated, and those already fully vaccinated to get booster shots./PN
