ILOILO City – Western Visayas’ cumulative cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reached 3,152 and half of these were local transmissions, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.
Seventy-eight new cases were recorded yesterday and of these, 76 were indigenous while the two others were a locally stranded individual (LSI) and an authorized person outside residence (APOR).
The new infections were in Iloilo City (32), Negros Occidental (19), Bacolod City (nine), Iloilo province (six), and Guimaras (two).
The provinces of Aklan, Antique and Capiz logged zero cases yesterday.
According to DOH regional epidemiologist Dr. Glen Alonsabe, 51 percent of the total confirmed cases in the region were indigenous. Citing figures as of Aug. 18, he said 1,512 of the then 2,981 total cumulative cases were local transmissions.
A case is considered local if the person infected has no history of travel outside the region in areas with high cases of COVID-19.
DOH data also showed that 32 percent or 947 of the total cases were LSIs; 17 percent or 504 were repatriated overseas Filipinos and the rest (18) were APOR.
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.
Addressing the Ilonggos on Wednesday night, Aug. 19, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas appealed for cooperation.
“Let us help our frontliners by being more responsible individuals in avoiding transmission of the virus. Let us continue to observe the minimum health standards. Keeping our communities safe and healthy is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
But there was encouraging news, too, yesterday. The region logged 57 more COVID cases that recovered. There were, however, four additional deaths.
Overall as of Aug. 20, Region 6 had 1,442 total recovered COVID patients but the deaths rose to 50. The active cases were at 1,660.
DOH Region 6 also noted clustering (two or more cases) of COVID-19 in several barangays.
In Iloilo province, the five leading were Barangay Botongon in Estancia town (four cases), barangays Pandac and Ungka in Pavia (two cases each), Barangay Mayunoc, San Joaquin (two cases) and Barangay Buyu-an, Tigbauan (two cases).
In Iloilo City, barangays with clustering of cases were the following:
* San Juan, Molo – 68
* Rizal Pala-Pala 1, City Proper – 27
* Tanza Baybay, City Proper – 27
* Rizal Pala-Pala 2, City Proper – 16
* North Baluarte, Molo – 13
* Calaparan, Arevalo – 12
* Tanza Bonifacio – 8
* Rizal Estanzuela – 7
* Cuartero – 7
* Calumpang – 7
In Bacolod City, COVID clustering were observed in barangays Alijis, Banago, Bata, Estefania, Granada, and Mansilingan (four cases each); barangays 14 and Taculing (three cases each); and barangays Singcang Airport and Tangub (two cases each).
In Negros Occidental, clustering of cases were in Barangay Cubay, La Carlota City (nine); Barangay Manbulac, Silay City (seven); Barangay Rizal, Silay City (three); Barangay Poblacion, EB Magalona (three); and Barangay Sto. Rosario, Binalbagan (three).
COVID-19 clustering, too, was observed in nine health facilities and workplaces/closed settings in the region, according to DOH. These were the following:
* Western Visayas Medical Center – six
* West Visayas State University Medical Center – three
* Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital – two cases
* iQor call center – 139
* Landbank of the Philippines-Jaro – five
* National Irrigation Administration – six
* Department of Public Works and Highways in Bago City, Negros Occidental – five
* Office of Senior Citizens Affairs-Bacolod City – three
* WNS call center– two/PN
