By Emme Rose Santiagudo
Western Visayas is a notch away from reaching the century mark in the overall tally of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
As of May 13, 2020, the total registered cases in the region totaled to 99, with two new cases, according to the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6).
Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, chief of the Local Health Support Division of DOH-CHD 6, said the two new cases are repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Negros Occidental.
“We recorded two new cases in the region as of today involving a 35-year-old male from Valladolid, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 98) and a 27-year-old male from Bago City, Negros Occidental (WV Patient No. 99). They are all stable and are under facility quarantine,” Pulmones said in an online press briefing on Wednesday.
Pulmones said the two OFW repatriates are part of the second batch of repatriates who arrived in Western Visayas on April 28-29.
A total of 56 OFW repatriates arrived in Bacolod City on April 28. The 56 repatriates include 28 residents of Bacolod City and 28 residents of Negros Occidental.
According to Pulmones, WV Patient No. 98 and WV Patient No. 99 tested negative in their first COVID-19 testing on May 2.
The two repatriates had exposure to previosuly confirmed positive repatriates and were tested again last May 11 which yielded positive results.
“Ika-second testing na nila ini. First testing was done pag-abot nila sa Bacolod where they tested negative. However because may information ang health authorities that these repatriates have exposure to positive repatriates they were again tested on May 11 and now the results came out that they are positive for Covid-19,” she said.
Meanwhile, three OFW repatriates in Iloilo City have recovered from Covid-19 on Wednesday.
The three new recoveries include a 30-year-old male from Jaro, Iloilo City (WV Patient No.69): a 29-year-old male from La Paz, Iloilo City (WV Patient No.70) and a 30-year-old male from Jaro, Iloilo City (WV Patient No.71).
Out of the 99 total cases in the region, 42 have recovered while 10 have died.
Moreover, a total of 29 OFW repatriates have been infected in the region.
