In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

17 new coronavirus cases reported in Eastern Visayas

By Gerico Sabalza

June 25, 2020, 4:59 pm

<p><strong>COVID-19 TEST</strong>. A health worker at Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH) in Catbalogan City collects a swab sample from a suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) carrier. The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday (June 24, 2020) reported 17 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Eastern Visayas, bringing its total to 452. <em>(Photo courtesy of SPH)</em></p>

COVID-19 TEST. A health worker at Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH) in Catbalogan City collects a swab sample from a suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) carrier. The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday (June 24, 2020) reported 17 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Eastern Visayas, bringing its total to 452. (Photo courtesy of SPH)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has reported 17 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Eastern Visayas, bringing its total to 452.

In a press statement issued Thursday, DOH Eastern Visayas director Minerva Molon said the new cases are part of the 431 swab results from the region’s two Covid-19 testing laboratories here, 374 from the state-run Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center and 57 from the privately-managed Divine Word Hospital. Both facilities are in this city.

Of the new cases, seven are from Leyte – six in Palo town and one in Tolosa, all locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Cebu.

Four LSIs in Northern Samar have also tested positive for the virus – two in Lavezares town and one each in San Isidro and San Roque.

The island town of Zumarraga in Samar recorded its first four Covid-19 cases, St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte its first case, and Caibiran town in Biliran its second case.

“We are taking steps to end this crisis in our region. Local officials can do mitigation approaches like community restrictions and isolation of people with symptoms, especially those who have exposure to positive cases,” Molon said.

She added that the patients are currently admitted to their respective local isolation facilities but will be transferred to a higher health care facility if further management is needed.

“Our epidemiology and surveillance unit in the region is now working with the concerned local government units (LGU) for the contact tracing. We are also gathering more information and reports about the new cases from these LGUs,” Molon said.

To date, Eastern Visayas has 452 coronavirus cases with 39 recoveries, and zero death, according to the DOH monitoring report.

The region’s confirmed cases have significantly increased since the start of June due to testing of returning residents from Metro Manila, as well as overseas Filipino workers. (PNA)

Comments