VIRUS INFECTS 34 IN W. VISAYAS: Miagao resident, 94, is oldest patient

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

A 94-year-old male from the town of Miagao in Iloilo province is the oldest to be infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas.

In a bulletin issued by the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD) 6 on Sunday, the patient, labeled as WV Patient No. 31, has pneumonia and is admitted to a hospital.

He was among the four new cases recorded in the region, according to DOH-CHD-6.

The three new cases recorded as of Sunday were:

• WV Patient No. 32, a 40 year-old male from Kalibo, Aklan with history of travel to Manila. He experienced cough before consulting in a government hospital. He is undergoing home quarantine and is already nearing completion;
• WV Patient No. 33, a 25-year-old male from Roxas City, Capiz is. He is a close contact of WV Patient No. 20 who is also from Capiz and died last March 28. The patient has history of travel to Manila and is also under home quarantine;
• WV Patient No. 34, a 59-year-old male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City who is a close contact of WV Patient No. 11. He is hypertensive and diabetic and remains in a hospital
• Patients 33 and 34 point to possible local transmission of the virus.

COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas now total 34 with Iloilo province atop the list with 12, followed by Bacolod City (7), Aklan (6), Capiz (4), Iloilo City (4) and Negros Occidental (1).

Five deaths were also recorded in the region – with two from Iloilo province and one each in Iloilo City, Capiz, and Bacolod City.

As of April 3, three patients from Bacolod City (2) and Iloilo City (1) recovered from COVID-19.

On Friday, The Medical City of Iloilo (TMCI) confirmed that a female patient from Iloilo City has tested negative for COVID-19 and has been discharged from the hospital.

“The first COVID-19 survivor of Panay has been discharged today. Her repeat test showed negative results for the virus and she has made a complete recovery from this disease,” Dr. Felix Ray Villa, TMCI chief executive officer, said.