ILOILO City – There are now 99 patients of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas.
Two more positive cases were confirmed yesterday by the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 – a 36-year-old male from Valladolid, Negros Occidental (Patient No. 98) and a 27-year-old male from Bago City, also in Negros Occidental (Patient No. 99).
The patients – both overseas workers who returned home on April 28 – were asymptomatic but put in isolation in Negros Occidental quarantine facilities, according to Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, chief of DOH-6’s Local Health Support Division.
In initial tests conducted on May 2, the two were negative from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
They were subjected to repeat tests on May 11 after it was learned they had exposure to a fellow repatriated overseas worker who tested positive for the virus, according to Pulmones.
The results were released yesterday afternoon.
Of the region’s 99 cases, 14 are currently hospitalized, five on home quarantine, and 28 on facility quarantine.
Pulmones said 42 patients have so far recovered but 10 died.
Here’s the breakdown of cases: Aklan, six; Antique, 14; Capiz, five; Guimaras, zero; Iloilo Province, 18; Negros Occidental, two; Bacolod City, nine; Iloilo City, 16; and repatriates, 29.
The 29 repatriates were from Aklan (one), Antique (three), Guimaras (two), Iloilo province (four), Negros Occidental (seven), Bacolod City (two), and Iloilo City (10).
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. 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.
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./PN
