MORE CASES. The Department of Health regional office in Palo, Leyte. Eastern Visayas on Wednesday (July 8, 2020) breached the 600-mark of total confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, doubling the number in just three weeks. (PNA file photo)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed 10 new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Eastern Visayas, bringing the region’s total to 600, doubling the number in just three weeks.
DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon reported in a press briefing on Wednesday that of the 600, only 111 (18 percent) are active cases. Majority or 486 have already recovered with three deaths.
Among those who recovered are 98 health workers assigned at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center and rural health units.
Molon said 91 percent or 548 patients are asymptomatic, six have severe symptoms with three deaths, and the rest have mild symptoms.
Confirmed cases significantly surged since last month with the return of residents stranded by movement restrictions in Metro Manila and Cebu.
Of the total cases, 385 are locally stranded individuals, 160 are local cases, 52 are returning overseas Filipino workers, and three recipients of Balik Probinsya program.
Meanwhile, of the new reported cases, five are from Leyte -- three in Carigara town, two in Barugo, and one in Bato.
Maasin City in Southern Leyte has two more cases, while the towns of Cabucgayan in Biliran and Gandara in Samar have one new case each.
These are part of the 465 swab results from the region’s two Covid-19 testing laboratories, of which 13 turned positive, including the repeat test of three coronavirus patients from Leyte.
Despite the doubling of the number of cases, Molon said: "We are happy to report that we have lifted the status of local transmission in the municipalities of Tarangnan in Samar; La Paz, Burauen, and Hilongos in Leyte since there are no more active cases in these areas.
She added that community transmission was prevented in the region due to the immediate isolation of returnees upon arrival.
An area can be declared as coronavirus-free if there are no new cases for 28 days or two incubation periods.
The health department has called on residents to continue to practice minimum health standards such as wearing masks, physical distancing, proper handwashing, cough etiquette, and practice healthy lifestyle. (PNA)
