AT LEAST 222 out of the 532 cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Eastern Visayas have recovered from the disease, said the Department of Health (DOH) regional office on Tuesday, June 30.

In Palo, Leyte alone, Mayor Ann Petilla led the local government unit and health personnel in welcoming the first recovered Covid-19 patient in their town.

The male patient was declared free from the virus after a 14-day quarantine and two negative PCR test results, conducted within eight days after his 14th day quarantine.

According to Petilla, the recovered patient "has given us so much hope that we can overcome Covid-19."

"I hope that his journey to recovery will be an inspiration for everyone battling the coronavirus. I personally saw how happy he was being home and to be with his family again," said Petilla in a statement.

Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC) released a total of 315 laboratory sample results, of which 310 are negative and five new confirmed cases.

Included in the negative results are the 86 samples from Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) and 17 DOH regional employees.

The new Covid-19 cases, tagged as Patients EV-528 to EV-532, are from Alang-alang, Leyte (1); Burauen, Leyte (1); Dulag, Leyte (1); Palompon, Leyte (1); and San Jose, Northern Samar (1). (SunStar Philippines)