TACLOBAN City - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Eastern Visayas has breached the 2,000-mark as the Department of Health (DOH-8) confirmed 135 fresh cases on Friday, the highest since the region recorded its first case.
As of Friday, August 21, a total of 2,053 cases, with 741 active cases, have already been logged in the region.
Villarreal, Samar recorded a total of 59 new cases, which were all close contacts of previously reported COVID-19 cases. It now has the most number of infections in the region with 128 cases.
Catbalogan City, the capital of Samar province has logged 19 new cases. Of these, 18 were close contacts, while one was a frontliner.
The city has been placed by Governor Michael Tan under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) Friday due to the sudden surge of COVID-19 cases, which has also infected Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy.
He also temporarily suspended the operations of the Samar Provincial Hospital on Thursday night, pending the release of the swab results of all its staff and health workers.
The province has recorded the most number of cases among thr six provinces with 83 fresh cases.
Leyte has 15 new cases, while Tacloban City logged 25 fresh COVID-19 cases.
Borongan City in Eastern Samar has one new case, while Southern Leyte has 10 cases.