PARTIAL LOCKDOWN. Services of the outpatient department (OPD) of the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) have been put on hold after its health care worker and some patients were tested positive for Covid-19, a statement on Friday (July 24, 2020) said. The hospital management said contacts of the positive cases have been swabbed and isolated. (Photo courtesy of L' Michelli K. Horlador)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6) on Friday logged 66 new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, raising the region's tally to 960.
The DOH-CHD 6, in its case bulletin number 120, said the bulk of the new cases were from Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
Three authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) also tested positive--two from Quezon City and one from Ozamis City.
The new cases are comprised of 31 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and four local cases from Negros Occidental; 24 local cases and one returning overseas Filipino (ROF) from Bacolod City; two local cases from Iloilo province and four local cases from Capiz.
"Most of the local cases in Bacolod City are close contacts of previously confirmed local cases,” said Dr. Sophia Pulmones, chief for local health support division DOH-CHD 6, in a phone interview on Saturday.
Pulmones added that six of the local cases from Bacolod City and two from Negros Occidental are health workers.
She said Bacolod City has implemented partial lockdowns in affected areas to limit the movement of people. Contact tracing also continues for the new confirmed cases.
A total of 12 new cases are under home quarantine, two are admitted in hospitals and the rest are under facility quarantine.
With the new cases, the region now has 374 active cases; 268 of whom are LSIs and ROFs. Based on the bulletin, 293 of the active cases are currently facility quarantined, 34 home quarantined and 47 are admitted.
On the other hand, the region has an additional 24 new recoveries bringing the total to 570.
Negros Occidental logged the highest recoveries with 14 composed of 12 LSIs, one ROF, and a local case.
The rest of the recoveries came from Guimaras with three LSIs, Iloilo province with three local cases and one LSI; one local case from Iloilo City; and one LSI each from Aklan and Antique.
Deaths recorded in the region still at 16.
Meanwhile, services at the outpatient department (OPD) of the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) have been halted after a health care worker and two patients were found positive for Covid-19.
“We apologize that our OPD services will be temporarily put on hold, however, it will resume once it is ready to serve the public,” a statement released by the WVSUMC management on Friday said.
It also assured that proper health and safety measures are observed and infection control and guidelines are being followed.
“All personnel deemed at risk were swabbed, isolated, and monitored. Areas affected were properly sanitized and disinfected,” the statement added.
The hospital statement did not elaborate on the confirmed cases but Pulmones said the health worker was found positive last July 22.
Two patients, who are Covid-19 positive, are still admitted at the same hospital. Their results were released two or three days ago and are considered local cases, she said (PNA)
