ILOILO City – From 18, the number of Western Visayans who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rose to 22.
Four more new cases were recorded yesterday, two of whom died, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
These two deaths brought to four the number of Region 6 residents who succumbed to the viral disease.
The four new cases were the following:
* Patient 19 – a 53-year-old male from Capiz; stable condition; with history of travel to Manila
* Patient 20 – a 60-year-old female from Capiz; died on March 28; with history of travel to Dubai and Manila
* Patient 21 – a 44-year-old male from Aklan; stable condition; travel history and exposure for verification
* Patient 22 – a 58-year-old male from Iloilo; travel history and exposure for verification; died on March 31
The two previous deaths were a 72-year-old male from Iloilo City and a 70-year-old male from Lambunao, Iloilo.
Confirmed cases in Aklan now stand at four; Capiz, three; Iloilo province, six; Negros Occidental, one; Bacolod City, five; and Iloilo City, three.
The provinces of Antique and Guimaras remain COVID-19-free.
COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has transferred to humans from animals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
According to the WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness and a dry cough.
Some patients may also have a runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion and aches and pains or diarrhea. Some people report losing their sense of taste and/or smell.
WHO said about 80 percent of people who get COVID-19 experience a mild case – about as serious as a regular cold – and recover without needing any special treatment.
About one in six people, the WHO said, become seriously ill. The elderly and people with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, or chronic respiratory conditions, are at a greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, DOH Region 6 focal person for COVID-19, said roughly 100 specimens for analysis remain pending.
“Because nagapasugod pa lang ang Region 6 sa pag-report sang mga suspected cases, everyday seguro more or less may ma-expect gid kita nga isa or duha nga confirmed cases,” said Juanico.
As of 12 noon of March 30, DOH-6 recorded a total of 385 patients under investigation of which 169 tested negative from COVID-19; 106 have also been discharged from hospitals while 105 others are still confined.
Meantime, a total of 32,315 out of 46,124 persons under monitoring in the region completed their 14-day quarantine./PN
