No new variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Health Region 6.
DOH-6 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jane Juanico clarified that local and public officials are doubtful that the presence of a new variant is causing sudden surges in COVID-19 cases across the region.
Juanico noted that regional laboratories sent 47 specimens to the Philipine Genome Center for new variant determination.
She reported that two Oveseas Filipino Workers (OFW) tested positive for the new variant but had been detected while still in Manila. The OFWs underwent quarantine and returned to the region after test results showed they were negative for virus.
“As of now wala pa kita evidence that a new variant has hit Region 6 particularly Bacolod City and Negros Occidental,” said Juanico.
DOH logs 257 COVID-19 cases per day in WV
West Visayas records an average of 257 daily cases of COVID-19 in April, according to the Department of Health Region 6.
The DOH said the average is three times higher this month compared to that in March which had 84 per day. Reports show, as of April 18, the region has a total of 32, 153 cases of COVID-19, with 4, 374 active cases, 26, 943 recoveries, and 829 deaths.
Negros Occidental, according to DOH-6 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, is now considered a high risk area, while Antique, Capiz, Iloilo City and Bacolod are at moderate risk. The regional office warned that cases might continue to rise at a faster rate and may peak through the middle and third week of April.
Juanico also reported the number of cases in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras this year have surpassed the total number of cases of each in 2020.
“Recently nga nagpakita sang senyales sang pagsaka sang kaso amo ang probinsya sang Capiz wherein madamo ang ila, lately, ang mga kaso nila nga mga symptomatic and even mga severe cases,” Juanico noted. Although Negros Occidental has not peaked in the number of cases compared to last year, Juanico said that the numbers are still rising and will continue to rise unless an intervention put was in place.
