ILOILO City – The high number of daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths in Western Visayas for the past few days was due to delayed reporting, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The DOH-6’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit recorded 72 COVID deaths yesterday, 85 on Nov. 24; 53 on Nov. 23; and 44 on Nov. 22.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, DOH-6 spokesperson, explained there was a delay in the submission of death certificates of several local government units.
For instance, the deaths reported on Nov. 24 were actually deaths from June 2021 (three); July (four); August (12); September (26); and October (17). Twenty-three deaths were recoded between Nov. 1 and Nov. 19.
Citing the real time reporting, Natalaray said there were days this month when COVID deaths were zero.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Region 6 reached 4,073 with Iloilo province logging the highest at 1,040 followed by Negros Occidental with 796, Bacolod City with 724, and Iloilo City with 604.
Meantime, Guimaras had the lowest pandemic fatalities at 147 followed by Aklan with 202, Antique with 229 and Capiz with 331./PN
