DUMAGUETE CITY – While there are no new confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-2019) in Negros Oriental as of Wednesday, health authorities in the province are saying the number of suspect cases could be “bloated” as the scenario has already shifted to “local transmission”.
The latest report from the Provincial Health Office-Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PHO-PESU) as of Tuesday afternoon showed that there were 6,342 asymptomatic persons still undergoing quarantine under close monitoring by health workers.
Also, a cumulative total of 4,449 asymptomatic persons have completed their 14-day quarantine period with a daily updating of cases, said Dr. Liland Estacion, assistant provincial health officer.
These are persons who have been monitored after contact tracing was done in relation to the death of two confirmed Covid-19 patients here, front-liners, and those with a history of travel, among others.
For people who fall under the classification of Influenza Like-Illness Mild (ILI-Mild), who are strictly monitored and isolated at home, there are 17 with co-morbidity conditions while another 271 are reported to have symptoms but without co-morbidity or co-existing conditions.
People who are classified as having Moderate Acute Respiratory Illness (MARI) total 15, with 14 of them in the hospital while one is isolated at home.
For those with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI), the PHO-PESU reported six patients, five of whom are admitted to the hospital while one is also being isolated and treated at home.
The ILI Mild, MARIs and SARIs are considered patients under investigation (PUIs) while the rest are persons under monitoring (PUMs).
However, since the scenario has changed to “local transmission”, the surveillance system and reporting has been changed in accordance with the new classification, the PHO official said, regardless of having a history of travel or whether there was any contact or none at all with a confirmed Covid-19 patient.
Meanwhile, as of Wednesday, there are no new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Negros Oriental, the number of which still remains at four.
The first two positive cases of the coronavirus disease in Negros Oriental had died early this month, days apart from each other.
The other two confirmed cases are admitted at hospitals here. (PNA)
