CASES OF coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Eastern Visayas has increased nearly 10 times in the past three weeks, raising concern over depleting resources to combat the pandemic in the region.
From just 40 cases on June 1, the number surged to 396 as of June 21. In three weeks, some 356 diagnoses were identified in the region’s six provinces, the Department of Health regional office here reported on Sunday.
DOH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Minerva Molon said the significant spike can be attributed to the testing of returning residents stranded by lockdown in Metro Manila and Cebu City, overseas Filipino workers, and healthcare workers.
Molon warned that if the trend continues, there is a big possibility that the number of cases will double in two weeks.
“Our health systems might be overwhelmed given that patients will either be in a hospital or a quarantine facility for 14 days, which will also deplete our resources, especially our human resource,” Molon said in a statement on Sunday.
Of the seven cities in the region, six have confirmed coronavirus cases. Ormoc City in Leyte, which had zero cases last June 5, now has 50 cases. Trailing behind are Tacloban City in Leyte (37 cases), Baybay City in Leyte (32), Catbalogan City in Samar (10), Calbayog City in Samar (6), and Maasin City in Southern Leyte (1). Only Borongan in Eastern Samar remained coronavirus-free city in the region.
Among provinces, 146 were recorded in Leyte, 64 in Samar, 35 in Southern Leyte, seven cases each for Northern Samar and Biliran, and one in Eastern Samar.
In Leyte, the virus has infected residents of Abuyog, Alangalang, Babatngon, Barugo, Bato, Burauen, Calubian, Capoocan, Dagami, Dulag, Hilongos, Hindang, Isabel, Jaro, Julita, Kananga, La Paz, Leyte, Matag-ob, Matalom, Palo, Palompon, Pastrana, San Miguel, Sta. Fe, Tabango, Tabontabon, Tanauan, and Tolosa.
There are also confirmed cases in Bontoc, Hinunangan, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Libagon, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog in Southern Leyte; Almeria, Biliran, Caibiran, Kawayan and Naval in Biliran; Basey, Gandara, San Sebastian, Sta. Rita, Tarangnan, and Villareal in Samar; Catarman and San Isido in Northern Samar; and Mercedes in Eastern Samar.
The health department also confirmed local transmission in some areas as people without travel history outside the region and no exposure to a known infected person caught the virus.
“To minimize the risk of being exposed to Covid-19 and to break the chains of transmission, let us all be cautious, practice the minimum health standards and adapt the new normal,” Molon added.
The region has two facilities that examine swab samples from suspected coronavirus carriers. These are the state-run and Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center and privately-owned Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory. Both facilities are in Tacloban City. (By Sarwell Meniano)
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