By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Based on the latest case bulletin of the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) on Aug 23, 2020, more than 80 percent of total active cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the region are local cases.
The region currently has 1,872 active cases as of Sunday, with 1,516, or 81 percent being local cases.
Out of the active local cases, 534 cases are in Iloilo City, 428 in Bacolod City, 277 in Negros Occidental province, 219 in Iloilo province, 30 in Guimaras province, 15 in Capiz province, 11 in Antique province, and 2 in Aklan.
The remaining 356 cases, or 19 percent, are Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR), Locally Stranded Individuals, and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF).
Repatriated cases are reported in a single category in the DOH-WV CHD’s case bulletins.
Currently, these active repatriate cases are composed of 235 cases in Negros Occidental province, 40 in Iloilo province, 33 in Bacolod City, 25 in Iloilo City, 8 in Capiz province, 7 in Aklan province, 5 in Antique province, and 3 in Guimaras.
The total number of local COVID-19 cases also increased, at 1,969 cases or at least 57 percent of 3,448 cases, which is the total number of confirmed cases in the region as of Aug 23.
The number of repatriated cases as of August 23 is at 1,479.
NEW CASES
The DOH-WV CHD reported 191 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the region on Saturday and Sunday.
The latest batches are still dominated by local cases, with 101 cases reported on Aug 22, and 83 reported on Aug 23, for a total of 184 cases this weekend.
Repatriates accounted for 3 new cases.
Based on location of residence, Bacolod City had the highest number of new reported cases over the weekend with 84 cases, followed by Negros Occidental province with 51, Iloilo City with 25, Iloilo province with 20, and Antique and Guimaras provinces both with 1 case each.
Also, 65 new recoveries were reported over the weekend, comprised of 32 in Iloilo City, 22 in Iloilo province, 5 in Negros Occidental province, 3 in Guimaras province, 2 in Capiz province, and 1 in Bacolod City.
The total recoveries in the region is now 1,523.
No new death was recorded over this weekend, with number of total deaths remaining at 53.
MORE CLOSURES
The Iloilo City government closed several facilities and areas in the city after cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were detected.
On Saturday, City Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered the temporary closure of the La Pa Maternity Clinic after health personnel were exposed to a patient who gave birth and tested positive for COVID-19.
“Due to the exposure to a positive patient, we will be temporarily closing the La Pa Maternity Clinic as a precautionary measure to prevent possible infections,” Treñas announced on Saturday.
The following day, the mayor also imposed a three-day lockdown at the Jaro Small Market starting Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
According to the mayor, there has been a surge of Covid-19 cases detected at Brgy. Simon-Ledesma near the market. Hence, a three-day lockdown was needed.
“In view of the number of cases at Simon Ledesma, we are constrained to place Jaro Small Market on lockdown for an initial three days starting tonight,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
On Sunday, Iloilo City recorded 22 new additional cases of Covid-19. This brings the cumulative cases in the metro at 694 with 146 recoveries, 14 deaths, and 534 active cases. (With a report from ERS)
