The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has infected over 800 health workers and frontliners in Western Visayas even as they lead the battle against the pandemic.
The Department of Health Western Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD6) reported 863 medical and non-medical frontliners in the region who contracted COVID-19.
Dr. Jane Juanico, head of the infectious disease section of DOH-CHD 6, said in a press conference on Wednesday that 57 percent, or 490 of the affected frontliners, are from the medical field.
“We have a total of 490 medical frontliners in the region who tested positive for COVID-19. Out of this number 118 are physicians, 194 are nurses, 61 are medical technologists, nine are radiologic technologists; midwives (23); nursing aide/attendant (27); and other medical related professions at 57,” Juanico said.
Juanico said 276 of the medical frontliners have been admitted to health facilities; 92 have recovered; 391 were identified as active cases while one expired.
On the other hand, non-medical frontliners who contracted the virus spiked to 373 cases (43 percent).
The number includes 209 who are still admitted; 77 recoveries; 292 active cases while one expired.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City recorded the highest number of infected frontliners at 250 followed by Iloilo City (224); Negros Occidental (168); Iloilo province (148); Capiz (44); Guimaras (12); Aklan (9); and Antique (8).
In Western Visayas, the total registered COVID-19 cases have jumped to 7,955 based on a bulletin issued by the health department on Tuesday.
Fifty-five percent of the total cases or 4,404 have recovered while 423 cases or 43 percent remain active.
Covid-19 related fatalities in the region has now spiked to 124 following the four new deaths recorded on Tuesday.
LOCAL TRANSMISSION
Almost 80% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas are local transmission cases, according to the Department of Health (DOH) regional office.
DOH data as of Sept 15, 2020 indicated that 6,082 of the 7,955 total cases, or 77.87%, are local cases or patients with travel history outside of Region 6.
The trend is higher compared to DOH figures on Aug 18 with 2,981 total cases, including 1,512 local cases, or 51% of the tally. In just 28 days, local cases shot up by 26.87%.
Dr. Ma. Sophia Pulmones, chief of DOH-6’s Local Health Support Division, said the spike in local cases can be attributed to the surge in local or community transmissions.
The World Health Organization said local transmission means that the source of the infection has been identified within the reporting location (such as within a country, region or city) and can be linked to other cases.
As early as July, the DOH-6 said that COVID-19 is being spread in Western Visayas via low level community transmission. (ERS)
