TACLOBAN City - The Department of Health (DOH-8) has confirmed another record-breaking number of fresh coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Eastern Visayas Tuesday, October 13.
At least 173 were logged out of 1,198 laboratory samples tested in two COVID-19 laboratories, the Eastern Visayas Regional COVID-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC) and Divine Word Virology Laboratory (DWHVL), bringing the region’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 5,493.
Northern Samar province posted a total of 103 new cases wherein 36 came from its capital, Catarman town; two each from Mondragon, San Roque, and Allen; and one from Palapag town.
Laoang, Northern Samar had the most number of new cases affecting the Laoang sub-provincial jail, which is currently on lockdown.
These cases include 48 close contacts and one healthcare worker. The jail facility holds over 180 prisoners and 80 jail guards.
Also reported was new COVID-19 fatality, a 77-year-old male from Catarman, Northern Samar, who expired on October 12. This brought the mortality rate at .95 percent with a total of 52 deaths in the region.
This was followed by Southern Leyte province with 47. Of these, 40 came from Maasin City, who were found to be close contacts of known cases; four from Macrohon town; and three from Sogod.
Samar province had 10 fresh cases. Two each came from Basey, Villareal, and Calbayog City, and three from Paranas.
Leyte had 12 cases with three each from Tacloban City and Palo town, four from Alang-alang, and two from Inopacan.
Eastern Samar posted a single case from Lawaan town.
Meanwhile, the health department also reported the total recoveries at 4,725 and 716 or 13.03 percent active cases.