ILOILO City – The number of patients who recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas has overtaken the number of the region’s active cases.
Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 reported 359 new recovered cases on Sept. 12, bringing to 4,102 the cumulative cases of patients who have overcome the viral disease in Western Visayas.
These new recovered cases were, to date, also the highest single-day case recoveries in the region.
According to the World Health Organization, most people (about 80 percent) recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment.
But older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
Meanwhile, most of Region 6’s cumulative 4,102 recovered patients were returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and authorized persons outside residence (APOR) at 1,534.
Iloilo City registered 945 recovered cases; Bacolod City, 756; Iloilo province, 393; Negros Occidental, 295; Capiz. 93; Antique, 27; and Aklan, 13.
As to the total active cases in Western Visayas as of Sept. 12, these now stand at 3,117 (including the 193 new cases recorded on Saturday).
Bacolod City, which has an ongoing mass testing, logged the most number of active cases at 1,457 followed by Negros Occidental with 797; Iloilo City, 420; Iloilo province, 194; ROFs/LSIs/APOR, 155; Capiz, 65; Guimaras, 11; Aklan, 10; and Antique, eight.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
The total cumulative confirmed cases (since March) in Western Visayas now stand at 7,336.
On the other hand, the region’s death toll is now at 117. Eight additional deaths were recorded over the weekend.
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell./PN
