Western Visayas posts highest single-day spike in COVID cases

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

 

The regional tally of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in Western Visayas nears the 200-mark with 15 new confirmed cases on Monday, the highest single-day spike so far, according to the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6).

DOH-CHD 6 reported that 10 of the new cases are in Iloilo City, three in Negros Occidental, and two in Iloilo province.

The health department’s Case Bulletin No. 88 summarized the 15 new confirmed cases:

-a 32-year-old male from Lambunao, Iloilo

-a 25-year-old male from Leon, Iloilo

-a 25-year-old female from Sagay City, Negros Occidental

-a 21-year-old male from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental

-a 23-year-old male from Escalante City, Negros Occidental

-a 25-year-old male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City

-a 5-year-old male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City

-a 72-year-old male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City

-a 27-year-old female from Molo, Iloilo City

-a 30-year-old female from Arevalo, Iloilo City

-a 30-year-old female from Arevalo, Iloilo City

-a 31-year-old female from Mandurriao, Iloilo City

-a 28-year-old-male from Molo, Iloilo City

-a 24-year-old-female from Mandurriao, Iloilo City

-a 22-year-old-male from Mandurriao, Iloilo City

According to Dr. Sophia Pulmones, head of the Local Health Support Division of DOH-CHD 6, all 15 new cases are locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who arrived from Cebu.

“Tanan ini sila locally stranded individuals na halin sa Cebu. We are still trying to get information sa concerned local government units (LGUs) on the dates of their travel and mode of transportation. But most of their swabs were taken from June 16-17,” Pulmones told Daily Guardian in a phone interview on Monday.

Pulmones said this is the highest single-day spike recorded in the region at 15. The second highest was 13 cases reported on Saturday.

Western Visayas now has 197 COVID-19 cases (72 active cases, 114 recoveries, and 11 deaths).

Region 6 also logged five new recoveries on Monday:

-a 38-year-old male from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 102);

-a 52-year-old male from La Paz, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 112); and

-two repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Mandurriao, Iloilo City, a 23-year-old male (WV Patient No. 119); and a 33-year-old female from Molo, Iloilo City (WV Patient No. 120).

Pulmones said the spike in COVID-19 cases in the region can be attributed to the surge of returning LSIs and OFW repatriates from Manila and Cebu.

“Kadamo sang nagabalik subong nga June nga mga LSIs and repatriates, amo na nga gadamo aton cases,” she said.

 

More than half of the total confirmed cases in the region are LSIs and OFW repatriates, Pulmones added.

Infected repatriates totaled to 114 in the region, as of Monday.

Based on data from the DOH-CHD 6 as of June 22, Pulmones reported that 14,303 LSIs have arrived in the region.

Most of the LSIs were from Cebu, which has been identified as the new epicenter of the pandemic in the country.

Returning OFWs in the region numbered to 5,506 as of Monday.

Authorities temporarily stopped the repatriation of LSIs from Cebu, but repatriations from other areas, particularly Metro Manila, continue following the resumption of flights at the Iloilo International Airport.