By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) reported 177 new cases in Western Visayas on Aug 11, 2020, setting a new record in the highest number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reported in a single day.
The latest batch of cases raised the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region to 2,307.
Majority of the new cases are local cases with 157, while 13 are Locally-Stranded Individuals (LSI) six are Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), and one is an Authorized Person Outside of Residence (APOR).
Iloilo City registered the most number of new cases in this latest batch with 93, followed by Iloilo province with 40.
Across the Panay Gulf, Negros Occidental province posted 23 new cases, while Bacolod City had 12.
For the rest of the region, Guimaras and Antique provinces both had three new cases, while Aklan province had two cases and Capiz province had one new case.
One APOR from another region also tested positive here, but his case was tagged to the region of his residence.
DOH-WV CHD spokesperson Dr. Maria Jocelyn Te said that the increasing numbers are due to the faster turnaround time with the number of DOH-accredited COVID-19 testing laboratories in the region increasing to six.
The DOH-accredited laboratories in the region include the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Qualimed Hospital in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital, and The Doctors Hospital, all in Bacolod City.
“So far, today we have 178 cases, with one tagged to another region, so we have 177 cases. But remember, cases are increasing because of the turnaround time of our six laboratories in the region, with more specimens coming in, that’s why there are more cases,” Te said.
Te also said they are still coordinating with the Iloilo City Government to determine whether or not the city is still within low-risk community transmission, saying that it will also depend on the assessment of the local government unit (LGU).
“Considering that in low-risk community transmission, the number of cases will be looked at, and it will depend on the assessment of the LGU. If there are multiple clustered cases, like four or five in one barangay or purok, the status may go to moderate or high-risk, but if there are only one or two cases, it is still low-risk,” she said.
One new COVID-19 death was also recorded, a 29-year-old male from Bacolod City (WV Patient No. 1257) who had an onset on July 25, 2020 and was admitted to hospital on July 26.
The patient died of severe sepsis with community acquired pneumonia, high-risk, and confirmed COVID-19 critical with acute respiratory syndrome, with co-morbidities of diabetes, obesity, and bronchial asthma in acute exacerbation.
Thirty-six new recoveries and were also recorded.
DOH data indicated that as of August 11, Western Visayas has 1,203 active cases, 1,071 recoveries and 33 deaths.
