By Emme Rose Santiagudo
Western Visayas now has 62 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients following four additional cases recorded in Antique, Iloilo province, and Bacolod City on Sunday.
The Department of Health Center for Health Development in Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6) reported Sunday that two new cases were detected in Pandan, Antique and one each in Zarraga, Iloilo and Bacolod City.
Dr. Renilyn Reyes, DOH-CHD 6 spokesperson, said a 31-year-old male from Zarraga, Iloilo is the 59th case in the region (WV Patient No. 59) and is under facility quarantine.
According to Reyes, the patient is an officer of the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology in Western Visayas (BJMP 6).
“The patient is asymptomatic. As of now, investigation and contact tracing are still ongoing sa iya nga workplace,” she told Daily Guardian on Sunday.
Reyes said the patient had no exposure to a positive case. He also had no travel history as the patient stayed in his workplace since the start of the lockdown.
“Nakuha lang siya sa preventive measure nga ginubra sang BJMP-6. They were preparing for a shifting na tani amo na hambal nila sa amon. So, they wanted to make sure na COVID free ang mabantay that’s why they were subjected to testing,” she said.
Out of the 50 specimens from BJMP-6, Reyes said only three were released as of Sunday – one tested positive while the two others were negative.
The health department is set to meet representatives of BJMP-6 on Monday to discuss measures the agency will undertake.
Meanwhile, the two new additional cases in Antique were a 56-year-old male (WV Patient No. 60) and a 69-year-old male (WV Patient No. 61). Both are from Pandan, Antique.
Reyes said the two new cases are close contacts of a previous confirmed case in Pandan (WV Patient No. 39).
Bacolod City also posted a new case, a 65-year-old female (WV Patient No. 62) with no exposure and travel history.
Contact tracing is now ongoing for the new cases in Pandan and Bacolod City, Reyes added.
As of Sunday, the region has 62 COVID-19 cases with 24 recoveries and nine deaths.
