RECOVERED. The local government of Kananga in Leyte sent home a patient who recovered from coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on July 13, 2020. The Department of Health on Monday night (July 20, 2020) reported two new Covid-19 cases and three more recoveries in Eastern Visayas. (Photo courtesy of Kananga local government)
TACLOBAN CITY – Two more residents in Eastern Visayas have tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the region’s total to 675, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday night.
In a statement, DOH Eastern Visayas director Minerva Molon said the new cases include a 19-year-old female from Hinunangan town in Southern Leyte and a 39-year-old male from Calubian town in Leyte, both locally stranded individuals (LSI) in Manila and Cebu City, respectively.
They will be tagged as the region’s patient numbers 674 and 675, she added.
“The patients are currently confined in their respective isolation facilities but will be transferred to a higher health care facility if further management is needed,” Molon said.
The newly reported cases are part of the 104 swab results from the region’s two Covid-19 testing laboratories here, of which 68 were done at the privately-managed Divine Word Hospital and 36 at the state-run Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center.
Meanwhile, the regional office reported that three more patients have recovered from Covid-19, bringing the region’s total recoveries to 642 or 95.11 percent of the total confirmed cases.
Molon said the region has maintained a high recovery rate since more than 90 percent of its confirmed cases are asymptomatic.
“Among the coronavirus patients in the region, three were severe cases and these are the three deaths in Leyte, Biliran, and Samar. The three mortalities have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and cardiac diseases, making them vulnerable to Covid-19,” she added.
The DOH attributed the region’s surge in infections since the start of June to the testing of returning residents, including overseas Filipino workers and LSIs.
Despite the significant increase, Molon noted that community transmission has so far been prevented as local government units immediately isolate the returning residents upon their arrival. (PNA)
