EASTERN Visayas recorded 16 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the total number of cases to 563, as of Thursday, July 2, 2020.

Out of the 469 laboratory results released by the Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC) on Thursday evening, 454 are negative and 15 are positive for Covid-19.

Among the 15 positive results, 13 are new cases and two are re-swab results of Patients EV-91 from Macrohon, Southern Leyte and EV-164 from Bato, Leyte, according to the Department of Health (DOH) in the region.

These cases will be tagged as Patients EV-548 to EV-560.

The 13 cases are from Tacloban City (1); Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte (1); San Juan, Southern Leyte (2); Biliran, Biliran (4); Maripipi, Biliran (1); Cabucgayan, Biliran (3); and Lavezares, Northern Samar (1).

Meanwhile, the Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory (DWHVL) released a total of 45 laboratory results with 37 negative and eight positive from Covid-19.

The eight positive results include three new cases and five re-swab results of Patients EV-207 from Baybay City, EV-360 from Palompon, Leyte, EV-446 and 448 from Palo, Leyte, and EV-498 from Hilongos, Leyte.

The three new cases will be tagged as Patients EV-561 to EV-563.

They are from Palo, Leyte (1); Abuyog, Leyte (1); and Palompon, Leyte (1).

According to DOH officials, there are no new recorded recoveries from Covid-19, as of Thursday.

EVRCTC said it has already released a total of 8,490 results, with 6 percent positive since its initial screening of samples on May 11, 2020. (SunStar Philippines)