ILOILO City – Seventy-four areas in Western Visayas reported clustering of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases as of April 5.
A coronavirus cluster occurs when there is a concentration of local infections in the same area at the same time.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6, the following areas detected two or more local cases in the last 14 days:
* Negros Occidental – San Carlos City, 220; Cadiz City, 113; Kabankalan City, 100; Ilog, 72; Bago City, 60; La Carlota City, 60; Murcia, 58; Silay City, 45; Sagay City, 43; Binalbagan, 42; Cauayan, 38; Himamaylan City, 35; Escalante City, 32; Toboso, 32; Talisay City, 31; Pontevedra, 26; Victorias City, 24; San Enrique, 19; Isabela, 18; Calatrava, 17; Pulupandan, 13; Sipalay City, 13; EB Magalona, 12; Valladolid, 11; and Manapla, 11.
* Bacolod City – Estefania, 52; Taculing, 39; Villamonte, 36; Alijis, 31; Mansilingan, 29; Mandalagan, 27; Tangub, 23; Granada, 20; Handumanan, 17; Bata, 14; Cabug, 13; Vista Alegre, 12; Pahanocoy, 12; and Banago, 10.
* Iloilo province – Santa Barbara, 50; Igbaras, 42; Oton, 31; Guimbal, 23; Pavia, 23; Dumangas, 23; San Joaquin, 22; Calinog, 18; Sara, 16; Passi City, 16; Pototan, 15; Leganes, 13; and Miag-ao, 10.
* Iloilo City – Jaro, 91; Mandurriao, 84; La Paz, 48; Molo, 47; City Proper, 37; Arevalo, 15; and Lapuz, 17.
* Aklan – Malay, 73; Kalibo, 28; Balete, 16; Ibajay, 14; and New Washington, 11.
* Antique – San Jose, 165; Sibalom, 54; Tibiao, 44; Hamtic, 41; Bugasong, 12; and San Remigio, 10.
* Capiz – Roxas City, 33; Maayon, 11; and Panay, seven.
* Guimaras – Buenavista with five cases.
The DOH earlier said local government units with clustering of coronavirus cases can impose a localized lockdown to contain the spread of the virus.
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.
Most people (about 80 percent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment, according to the World Health Organization.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness./PN
