A total of 3,690 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in Eastern Visayas have recovered from the illness, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Thursday.
The number represents 84.52 percent of the region’s 4,366 confirmed cases since March, DOH Eastern Visayas regional director Minerva Molon said in a statement.
“Most of our patients are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and managed in community isolation units and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities. Only around 6 percent of our patients have been hospitalized,” she added.
To date, the region has 635 active cases, with the addition of 103 new infections reported on Wednesday night.
Leyte has 47 new cases — 25 in Barugo, 10 in Babatngon, three in Palo, two in Burauen, and one each in Baybay City, Dulag, Inopacan, Javier, La Paz, Matalom, and Matag-ob.
In Samar, 44 more have been infected — 17 in Catbalogan City, 11 each in Calbayog City and Jiabong, four in Sta. Margarita, and one in Sta. Rita, while Tacloban, the regional center, reported 12 new cases.
The regional office also reported that a 55-year-old male patient here died due to Covid-19 on Sept. 16. This brought the region’s death tally to 41 or 0.94 percent of the total cases.
Molon said the region has noted a decrease in new cases from Sept. 16 to 22, reminding the public to continue the strict practice of minimum health standards to break the chain of virus transmission.
“We do not want our hospitals and other health care facilities to reach their maximum capacities. We can help our health workers and front-liners to significantly slow down the rate of transmission if we will religiously practice health protocols,” she said.
Based on the DOH record, the majority of the confirmed cases in the region are locally-acquired due to declared local and community transmission in some areas.
Among the six provinces in the region, 1,508 were recorded in Samar, 1,420 in Leyte, 280 in Southern Leyte, 148 in Northern Samar, 105 in Biliran, and 53 in Eastern Samar.
The cities of Tacloban and Ormoc have 727 and 125 total cases, respectively, based on the DOH report. (PNA)