ILOILO City – Nine more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who returned to Western Visayas last week tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
They were part of the 11 new cases in the region that the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed yesterday.
The two other new cases were residents of Arevalo district here.
These 11 cases brought to 91 the total number of COVID-19 patients in Western Visayas, according to Dr. May Ann Soliva-Sta. Lucia, head of DOH Region 6’s Health Promotion division.
In Bulletin No. 41, the nine OFWs – now in isolation in their respective local government units’ quarantine facilities – were the following:
* 24-year-old male from Nueva Valencia, Guimaras (Patient No. 81)
* 28-year-old male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City (Patient No. 82)
* 30-year-old female from La Castellana, Negros Occidental (Patient No. 83)
* 43-year-old male from Escalante City, Negros Occidental (Patient No. 84)
* 27-year-old male from Bacolod City (Patient No. 86)
* 42-year-old male from Bacolod City (Patient No. 87)
* 38-year-old male from Laua-an, Antique (Patient No. 89)
* 42-year-old male from Tobias Fornier, Antique (Patient No. 90)
* 34-year-old male from Hamtic, Antique (Patient No. 91)
The two other new cases (Arevalo, Iloilo City) were:
* 33-year-old male (Patient No. 85) hospitalized
* 46-year-old male (Patient No. 88), facility quarantine
These two Arevalo cases brought to seven the COVID-19 patients in the district.
As of press time, however, it was unclear if they were also residents of Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo where the district’s first five cases came from.
Barangay Sto. Niño Sur is currently on lockdown to prevent further COVID-19 transmission.
“Of the region’s 91 COVID-19 cases, 31 already recovered while 10 died,” said Sta. Lucia.
Here’s the breakdown of the 91 cases per area:
* Aklan – six
* Antique – 14
* Capiz – five
* Iloilo province – 18
* Negros Occidental – two
* Bacolod City – nine
* Iloilo City – 15
* Repatriates – 22 (Aklan, one; Antique, three; Guimaras, two; Iloilo province, three; Negros Occidental, four; Bacolod City, two; Iloilo City, seven)
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus now called SARS-CoV-2. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
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.
Most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment, according to the World Health Organization.
However, older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness.
There is yet no vaccine or treatment for COVID-19./PN
