ILOILO City – Western Visayas recorded 38 new positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) three days in a row.
The region’s positive cases hit at 197 yesterday, after the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 reported 15 additional cases. These were all returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs), according to Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, head of the DOH-6’s Local Health Support Division.
Over the weekend, DOH-6 also announced that all 18 laboratory tests conducted by the Western Visayas Medical Center sub-national laboratory came out positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19.
Meanwhile, of the region’s 72 positive cases, seven are still confined in hospitals and three are on home quarantine. One hundred fourteen already recovered while 11 others died.
The 38 latest COVID-19 patients were the following:
* Patient No. 165 from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental (locally stranded individual or LSI)
* Patient No. 166 from Escalante City, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 167 from Silay City, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 168 from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 169 from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental (OFW)
* Patient No. 170 from Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 171 from Bago City, Negros Occidental (OFW)
* Patient No. 172 from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (OFW)
* Patient No. 173 from Bacolod City (OFW)
* Patient No. 174 from Jaro, Ilolio City (LSI)
* Patient No. 175 from Alimodian, Iloilo (LSI)
* Patient No. 176 from Cuartero, Capiz or Patient (OFW)
* Patient No. 177 from Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 178 from Murcia, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 179 female from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 180 from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 181 from Dueñas, Iloilo (LSI)
* Patient No. 182 from Sibunag, Guimaras (OFW)
* Patient No. 183 from Lambunao, lloilo (LSI)
* Patient No. 184 from Leon, Iloilo (LSI)
* Patient No. 185 from Sagay City, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 186 from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 187 from Escalante City, Negros Occidental (LSI)
* Patient No. 188 from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 189 from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 190 from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 191 from Molo, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 192 from Arevalo, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 193 from Arevalo, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 194 from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 195 from Molo, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 196 from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (LSI)
* Patient No. 197 from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (LSI)
For the national tally, there are now over 30,000 COVID-19 cases in the country. DOH reported 630 new cases on Monday, bringing the country’s total cases to 30,682.
The disease has also claimed the life of eight more individuals, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 335.
The DOH also recorded 250 new recoveries, raising the total of patients beating COVID-19 to 8,143.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 recently temporarily stopped the repatriation to Western Visayas of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Cebu.
The suspension took effect on June 20, said DILG-Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay, citing the advisory of Assistant Regional Director Maria Calpiza Sardua.
Cebu was again placed under enhanced community quarantine on June 16 due to a surge in cases of COVID-19 there, said Sumagaysay.
She, however, clarified that only the return of LSIs from Cebu was suspended. The return to Region 6 of overseas workers stranded in Cebu would continue, she stressed
Region 6 is currently under an extended modified general community quarantine.
Sumagaysay appealed for patience, understanding and cooperation from the LSIs and their families.
According to the World Health Organization, most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
However, older people and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth./PN
