By Mike Crismundo BUTUAN CITY – After almost a week of no reported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the regional office of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) on Friday night announced that it has recorded three new cases, raising the number of cases in the Caraga region to 11. The three new patients came from Agusan del Norte and were all locally stranded individual (LSIs). “DOH confirms another three new COVID-19 RT-PCR confirmed cases in Caraga region,” said the DOH-CHD, in its press statement Friday night. The three new cases were LSIs who arrived in the region on May 23 and 27. Caraga region now has a total of 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Upon arrival, rapid antibody testing was initiated by the local governments, and the three LSIs tested positive for COVID-19. “These initial findings led to swab collection, and specimens were then sent to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Sub-National laboratory for RT-PCR confirmatory testing,” the DOH-CHD Caraga region said. The first case was a 32-year-old male who came from Quezon City, the second case was a 28-year-old male who came from Cebu; and the third case was a 22-year-old female who also came from Cebu. All three cases were residents of Agusan del Norte, and are currently asymptomatic with no pre-existing medical condition such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma. Two are currently admitted in the LGU designated quarantine facility whereas the other one is on strict home quarantine. DOH Caraga, together with the LGU concerned, is actively monitoring the condition of these new cases while continuously conducting contact tracing. Therefrom, the regional office is calling on all the passengers of PAL Flight PR4361 last May 27, which one of the patients took, to contact their local health authorities or the DOH Hotline: 09453592632 or 09482241857 for medical evaluation. “We remind the public to consistently exercise physical distancing by maintaining at least one meter distance from people and avoid physical contact like hugging and shaking of hands,” DOH 13 Regional Director Dr. Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.