SECOND to Negros Oriental, Cebu City recorded a rising trend of total active cases in the last 14 days among the highly urbanized cities and provinces in Central Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) in Central Visayas reported.
DOH data from December 22, 2020, to January 5, 2021, showed that Cebu City recorded 213 total active cases on January 5, 2021, with 34 new cases.
As of January 5, 2021, Central Visayas has a total of 817 active cases, 408 are from Negros Oriental, 213 from Cebu City, 86 Cebu Province, 47 Lapu-Lapu City, 37 Mandaue City, 22 Bohol, and four Siquijor.
Total deaths are at 1,431, total recoveries at 22,937 while total cases for the entire region is at 25,185.
In Cebu City, the conduct of the nine-day Misa de Gallo was feared to cause a surge in infections in the city.
On December 22, 2020, total active cases are at 104, it went down to 80 cases on December 28 but started to rise on the 29th at 96 until 213 on January 5, 2021.
Recently, 18 healthcare workers assigned in an operating room (OR) complex of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) tested positive for Covid-19.
DOH said these include six doctors, 12 nurses and operating room attendants
DOH Spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said of the 18, 13 are asymptomatic while five manifested mild symptoms.
All health workers are currently being isolated and quarantined in various DOH-accredited hotels in Cebu City.
Loreche said based on the report submitted by VSMMC the OR Covid-19 transmission started when an operating room nurse, who reportedly was not feeling well assisted in a surgical procedure on December 28
The OR nurse had a positive Covid-19 result on December 29.
Loreche said some of the six doctors, who tested positive, conducted clinic and surgical procedures in private hospitals.
VSMMC in a statement released Wednesday said four doctors, seven nurses, two nurses, two nursing attendants, and five institutional workers tested positive for Covid-19.
VSMMC issued an advisory for the temporary closure of the operating room complex from January 5 to 7 for decontamination and infection prevention and control protocol. (MVG with reports from WBS)