By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY—After more than a month, the Department of Health (DOH-6) recorded a new death from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas region
“It is unfortunate, but the region has a new COVID-19 death,” said DOH-6 Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe.
The 11th COVID-19 casualty of Western Visayas was a repatriated overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Anilao town, Iloilo province. The 39-year-old man was only diagnosed having COVID-19 last June 2.
He died Saturday, June 6, while in isolation at the Western Visayas Sanitarium, the DOH-run hospital in Sta. Barbara town, Iloilo province that has been designated to cater to those with mild COVID-19 symptoms.
Alonsabe told Manila Bulletin the casualty only had slight fever and cough, and there was nothing serious, but the man was found dead at the hospital’s restroom.
Alonsabe said he might have had a sudden heart attack, but it was not yet conclusive.
Mayor Lee Ann Debuque of Anilao town separately issued a statement that she and the man’s family were in shock of his sudden death.
The last COVID-19 casualty of Western Visayas was recorded last May 3. This was when a 40-year old man from Bacolod City died after having been initially listed as a COVID-19 recovery.
Of all areas in Western Visayas, Iloilo province still had the most number of COVID-19 deaths with five.