THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the Province of Davao del Norte is seen to increase further as it continues to receive locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipino (ROFs).

Davao del Norte Provincial Task Force Incident Commander Alfredo Lacerona said the majority of the recent Covid-19 cases are the LSIs and ROF who arrived from Manila.

“Ang trend sa karon, ang mga nahimong positive kadto man gung mga nanguli nga mga OFWs ug mga LSIs. Siguro, hangtod nga nagadawat pa ta sa ilaha, magsaka gihapon ang atong mga kaso (As long as we are accepting these LSIs, we expect Covid-19 cases will rise),” he said in a virtual presser, adding that there has been no local transmission as of Wednesday, July 8.

He noted that 44 confirmed Covid-19 positive cases were recorded since the province started receiving LSIs and ROFs.

As of July 8, the province has three new Covid-19 positive cases: a 36-year-old female OFW from Tagum City who arrived last May 31 via Sweeper Flight; a 34-year-old female LSI from Sto. Tomas who arrived last June 24 via commercial flight; and a 30-year-old LSI from Carmen who arrived last July 3 via a commercial flight.

He said all of them were asymptomatic and are currently staying in isolation facilities.

Lacerona, however, assured that there are enough isolation facilities in the province and intensive care units (ICUs) to accommodate symptomatic Covid-19 positive cases.

“Daghan kaayo ta’g isolation facilities from the municipal level up to the provincial level. Mga almost 700 rooms. Kaya ni siya mo-accommodate og 700 individuals (we have about 700 rooms in isolation facilities located in provinces and municipalities),” he said.

“As of this year, nag-ready gyud ang atong province because we have three provincial hospitals and they are now ready. Naa na silay ICUs nga atong giplastar sa ilaha. Ang uban, tag duha, tag tulo, tag lima kabuok nga Intensive Care Units kada hospitals. Naa na pud tay mga isolation facilities for PUIs, katong naa nay mga sintomas (we have put ICUs in our three provincial hospitals. Some of them have two to five ICUs for those who have symptoms of the virus),” he said.