Active COVID cases in W. Visayas surge to 106

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

 

The Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6 is currently monitoring 106 active cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Western Visayas, mostly locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

In a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, head of the Local Health Support Division of DOH-CHD 6, said 106 of the 240 cases in the region are considered active cases.

“May ara kita 106 active cases, wherein 103 are repatriates, two in Iloilo province, and one in Iloilo City,” Pulmones said.

Pulmones said two of the active cases manifested influenza like illnesses (ILI) while all the other active cases are asymptomatic.

“The active cases are finishing their 14-day home or facility quarantine,” she said.

Pulmones said active cases that remain asymptomatic for 14 days can be tagged as recovered even without a repeat negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result.

“Based sa aton bag-o nga discharge criteria kon asymptomatic siya for 14 days, wala na kinahanglan i-repeat RT-PCR test, they can be tagged as recovered na,” she explained.

On Thursday, DOH-CHD 6 recorded 12 additional COVID-19 cases in Region 6.

Nine of the new cases are LSIs from Negros Occidental:

-a 23-year-old female from Escalante (WV Patient No. 230);

-a 29-year-old female from Victorias City (WV Patient No. 231);

-a 24-year-old female from San Enrique (WV Patient No. 232);

-a 48-year-old male from Hinigaran (WV Patient No. 233);

-a 21-year-old female from Himamaylan  (WV Patient No. 234);

-a 27-year-old male from Cadiz City (WV Patient No. 235);

-a 52-year-old female from Victorias City (WV Patient No. 236);

-a 25-year-old female from Hinobaan (WV Patient No. 239); and

-a 25-year-old female from Cadiz City (WV Patient No. 240).

Iloilo province also posted two positive cases – a 30-year-old female LSI from Tubungan town and a 42-year-old male OFW repatriate from Pototan, Iloilo (WV Patient No. 238).

A 29-year-old female from Bacolod City (WV Patient No. 237) also tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the 11 infected LSIs, seven came from Luzon while four were from Cebu, according to Pulmones.

All 11 new cases are under facility quarantine.

Meanwhile, two new recoveries were also recorded in the region on Thursday – a 31-year-old male OFW repatriate from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 127) and 29-year-old male LSI from Sagay City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 132).

As of Thursday, Region 6 has 240 confirmed cases with 106 active cases, 123 recoveries and 11 deaths.