By Restituto Cayubit
PALO, Leyte - The Department of Health Regional Office 8 (DOH-8) has recorded 14 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Eastern Visayas.
DOH-8 Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon said the new cases reported Thursday night brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region to 90.
Molon reported that Eastern Visayas Regional COVID-19 Testing Center, based in Tacloban City, released a total of 185 results wherein 171 were found negative of the virus, while 14 tested positive.
She said the new 14 reported positive of the were tagged as patients EV-77 to EV-90.
Molon said that, of the 14 positive results, one was from Tacloban City tagged as patient EV-77.
It was learned that patient EV-77 was a 23-year-old, a locally stranded individual (LSI) who arrived from Cebu last June 9. He has been admitted to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with high grade fever. He has had no contact with the barangay where he is a resident.
The 12 patients from Baybay City were labeled as patients EV-78 to EV-89. Patients EV-78 to EV-83 were LSIs who arrived in Baybay from Cebu province, while patient EV-84 was a 30-year-old male overseas Filipino worker (OFW), and patients EV-85 to 89 were LSIs who arrived from Manila.
Molon said that all confirmed cases in Baybay City were not of local transmission.
Patient EV-90 was a 23-year-old, male a seafarer, who arrived last May 31 via an AirAsia sweeper flight, and made his way to Bontoc, Southern Leyte. It was the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Southern Leyte.