THE number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Eastern Visayas continued to increase with 16 additional cases on Sunday afternoon, August 16, bringing the total count to 1,585.
The Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory (DWHL) released a total of 117 laboratory results, of which 92 are negative and 25 are positive for Covid-19.
Of the 25 cases, 16 are new and nine are repeat tests of patients from Carigara, Calubian, Julita, Palompon, Tanauan and Palo, all in Leyte.
The 16 new cases are tagged as patients EV-1570 to EV-1585, the Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas reported.
In Leyte, the cases are in Hilongos (1), locally stranded individual (LSI) from Lapu Lapu City; Matag-ob (4), all LSIs from Mandaue and Cebu; Carigara (1), LSI from Laguna; Dulag (2), LSIs from Navotas and Taguig; Baybay City (1), LSI from Mandaue; Tanauan (1); Inopacan (1), LSI from Paranaque; Tacloban (4); and Capoocan (1).
Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) regional office said that it will resume operation on August 17 after one of its employees already tested negative for the virus.
The regional office also conducted disinfection Sunday morning, August 16, in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Office.
“Thank you for all the prayers and understanding. Let us continue to observe minimum health standards for the welfare and safety of everybody,” NIA regional office said in a statement.
In Catbalogan City, the City Health Office issued an advisory requesting the public to coordinate with them or do home quarantine for 14 days if they develop symptoms and if they had visited the following places:
* August 2 - Lechonan near Duptours
* August 4 or 7 - Goldilocks, 2 p.m.
* August 6 - Pacifica
* August 7 - City Hall ATM, 9 a.m. and Food Stall near Land Bank at 9:10 a.m.
* August 8 - D'Manaog 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
* August 10-12 – Purok 6, Barangay Mercedes (Near Fisheries)
* August 12 - Merkado Kaunan 6 a.m., Merkado Tindahan Baboy
* August 14 – Purok 2, Barangay Mercedes (Ubos Parola)
On August 15, the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan also released a public advisory after a health worker tested positive for the virus. The patient has been tagged as EV-1557.
“As part of the precautionary measures and to pave way for disinfection and isolation of health workers included in contact tracing, Samar Provincial Hospital is temporarily closed for admissions until further notice, except for imminent deliveries and life-threatening emergencies which may be catered in the Triage Area,” it said. (SunStar Philippines)