By Joseph B.A. Marzan
After several weeks of record-high listing of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) said on Wednesday that most of the cases in the region are still comprised of repatriated Locally-Stranded Individuals (LSI), Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF), and Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR).
In a press conference, DOH-WV CHD chief Dr. Marlyn Convocar said 74 percent of the cases are repatriates, while the remaining 26 percent are local cases.
Based on DOH data as of August 4, 2020, Western Visayas logged 1,621 cases, where 50 percent, or 782 cases, are LSIs.
Local cases are actually at a distant second with 399 cases, while ROFs accounted for 357 cases or 23 percent of the total, and the remaining one percent, or nine cases, are APORs.
“It’s true that there has been a surge of cases since the later part of June and the whole month of July, especially the last three weeks of July. Most of these cases are still LSIs and ROFs at 74 percent. Even if the number of cases rise, only 26 percent are most likely local transmission,” Convocar said.
But she recognized the presence of clustered cases in the region, saying that the DOH is also magnifying its focus on these cases.
The top five barangays in the region with clustered cases as of August 4, 2020, are barangays Estefania in Bacolod City (17 cases), Pali-Benedicto in Mandurriao, Iloilo City (16), Banago (14) and Tangub in Bacolod City (9), and Bo. Obrero in Lapuz, Iloilo City (9).
“If you remove the specimen collection of LSIs, ROFs, and APORs, the graph will look the same as in April, May and June. But from the record that we have now, we saw that there really are clustering of cases as reported, and as defined, if there are two confirmed cases in the barangay for two consecutive weeks, we label that as clustering. We should focus on this because this is where our intervention for isolation and quarantine come in,” Convocar said.
LOCAL CASES
The same data also showed the number of municipalities without active local cases such as all 17 municipalities of Aklan, all 18 towns in Antique, 15 in Capiz province, four in Guimaras province, 31 in Iloilo province, and 31 in Negros Occidental province.
In Iloilo province, the municipalities of Ajuy, Anilao, Badiangan, Balasan, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Batad, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Carles, Concepcion, Dingle, Duenas, Guimbal, Lambunao, Lemery, Leon, Maasin, Mina, New Lucena, Pavia, San Dionisio, San Enrique, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara, Sara, and Tubungan currently do not have any active cases.
Only San Rafael town remains COVID-free in Iloilo.
All districts of Iloilo City have active local COVID-19 cases.
