THE Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas enjoined all the local government units (LGUs) in the region to prepare for the arrival of 731 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Manila, following the resumption of the national government’s “Hatid Tulong” program on Saturday, July 25, 2020.

Amid the increasing cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the regional health department urged the LGUs to be ready for their quarantine or isolation units, reorientation on infection and prevention control measures, and collaboration with all agencies for a whole nation approach against the disease.

Citing a report from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), DOH said the 731 LSIs are from Leyte (254), Tacloban City (21), Ormoc City (46), Southern Leyte (67), Samar (113), Eastern Samar (173), and Northern Samar (44)

On Saturday, DOH also reported 46 new Covid-19 cases, mostly LSIs.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the region is 806, with 649 recoveries.

Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC) released a total of 237 laboratory results, of which 223 are negative and 14 are positive for the disease.

The new cases, mostly LSIs, are from Jiabong, Samar (1); Paranas, Samar (1); Ormoc City (1); Carigara, Leyte (1); Matag-ob, Leyte (1); Dulag, Leyte (1); Kawayan, Biliran (1); Almeria, Biliran (1); Naval, Biliran (2); and Caibiran, Biliran (4).

Also, Divine World Hospital Virology Laboratory released a total of 135 laboratory results, of which 103 are negative and 32 are positive for Covid-19.

The cases are from Palo, Leyte (3); Tanauan, Leyte (3); Abuyog, Leyte (5); Capoocan, Leyte (8); Calubian, Leyte (1); Hindang, Leyte (3); Tacloban City (2); Villaba, Leyte (5); and Hilongos, Leyte (1). (SunStar Philippines)