THE Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas reported a total of 27 new cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), bringing the total number of cases in the region to 848, with 653 recoveries, as of Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

Most of the cases are locally stranded individuals (LSIs), according to the laboratory results from the Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC) and the Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory (DWHVL) in Tacloban City.

The EVRCTC released a total of 376 laboratory results, of which 341 are negative and 26 are positive for the disease.

The 26 new cases are tagged as patients EV-823 to EV-848.

In Southern Leyte, the cases are from Maasin (2), both LSIs from Manila; Sogod (1); and Malitbog (1).

In Samar, the cases are from Paranas (14), all LSIs from Antipolo, Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Novaliches, and Quezon; Basey (2); Motiong (5), all LSIs from Makati, Quezon City, Pasay, and Laguna; and San Sebastian (1).

The DWHVL also released a total of 114 laboratory results.

Of these, 109 are negative and five are positive for Covid-19.

The positive include one new case and four from Antipolo who just sent their samples for testing in the laboratory.

“The new case will be tagged as patient EV-820, a number which was used to tag a case last night who is not a resident in the region but from Batangas,” DOH-Eastern Visayas said in a statement.

The new case is from Catbalogan City, an LSI from Taguig City.

Meanwhile, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado reminded the public not to panic, saying the LSIs were placed in the city quarantine facility upon their arrival.

“They will also be closely monitored by our local health personnel, so there is no chance to be in contact with the general public. We have also instructed our contact tracing team to submit immediately those who have primary exposure to the patients, as well as their secondary contacts, in order to closely monitor the following individuals in our isolation center,” Mercado said.

“The said primary and secondary contacts will then undergo a RT-PCR (swab) test. In light of this, we humbly ask the public to remain vigilant at all times and to religiously practice the infection-prevention and control measures. With our continuous commitment, we can get through this together,” he added.

On Monday, July 27, DOH-Eastern Visayas also reported 15 new Covid-19 cases who are all LSIs. (SunStar Philippines)