MORE RECOVERIES. A Covid-19 survivor in Palo, Leyte receives a "welcome home" cake and a certificate for completing the mandatory quarantine in this undated photo. The Department of Health on Saturday (Jan. 16, 2021) reported 291 new coronavirus recoveries in Eastern Visayas, bringing the region's cumulative total to 11,814. (Photo courtesy of Palo local government)
TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 291 patients have recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Eastern Visayas, bringing the region's cumulative number of recoveries to 11,814 as of Saturday.
The number represents 92.46 percent of the region's 12,777 confirmed cases since March last year, based on the latest case bulletin of the Department of Health (DOH).
The DOH attributed the region's high recovery rate to the high percentage of asymptomatic or mild patients, which is 98.7 percent of the total cases. The rest are severe and critical cases.
Asymptomatic or mild cases are managed in local community isolation units and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities but transferred to a higher health care facility if further management is needed.
To date, the region has 806 active cases, while 157 patients have died of complications, mostly senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, the DOH said.
Of the active cases, 145 are new infections – 93 in Leyte, 12 in Eastern Samar, seven in Samar, and five in Southern Leyte.
The cities of Ormoc and Tacloban have 22 and six new cases, respectively.
They are part of the 775 swab results from the region's three testing laboratories. These are the Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Center and Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory, both in this city, and the Ormoc Molecular Diagnostic Center.
Earlier, the DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit (RESU) disclosed that recent cases reported in the region were acquired in family gatherings and other social events during the holiday celebrations.
Marc Steven Capungcol, RESU head, said the region also has three active testing laboratories that contribute to the rising cases in the region "as more people are getting tested".
"We are appealing to the local government units, provincial health offices, and to the other stakeholders to increase their capacity of isolation and quarantine facilities. We also appeal to them to capacitate their hospitals so they can manage referrals by their own and prevent congestion at the tertiary hospitals," he said a press statement.
The DOH regional office reiterated its information drive dubbed “BIDA Solusyon”, which promotes four key behaviors to reduce the possible transmission of the virus.
BIDA stands for Bawal walang mask (Not wearing a face mask is not allowed); I-sanitize ang mga kamay at iwas hawak sa mga bagay (Sanitize your hands and avoid touching surfaces); Dumistansya ng isang metro (Keep a one-meter distance from other people); and Alamin ang totoong impormasyon (Know the factual information). (PNA)
