MANILA, Philippines – Four more areas in Eastern Visayas are potentially the next hot spots for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to the Department of Health (DOH).
These areas include Ormoc City which has 38 COVID-19 cases; Southern Leyte with 33 cases; Samar with 61 confirmed cases; and Leyte with the highest number of cases at 133.
Based on DOH records, the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases recorded the highest in June.
“Hindi pa po ganun karami ang mga kaso sa mga nasabing lugar ngunit nakikita natin na mas mabilis tumataas kumpara sa ibang lugar,” noted DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
[Cases are manageable in the said areas but the number of infection is rapidly increasing as compared to other areas.]
To curb the spread of COVID-19, Vergeire said a strict and proper monitoring of cases in areas with high risk of infection like Central Visayas is necessary.
“[We’ve sent equipment] to ramp up the testing capacity of Cebu province and required the strict implementation of our public health standards with the help of the local government and the national task force in these emerging hotspots,” Vergeire said.
She noted several factors that contribute to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
“Atin pong ine-expect na tataas pa rin ang kaso habang unti-unti nating binubuksan ang ating ekonomiya, bahagyang niluluwagan ang community restrictions at patuloy na tumataas ang ating testing capacity,” the official said.
[We expect that cases to further spike while we gradually open our economy and restrictions are being relaxed and our testing capacity is improving.]
Nonetheless, the DOH observed that case trends in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby areas in stabilizing except in Cebu City and other parts of Central Visayas; thus the national government is putting more effort into the said areas. MNP (with details from Aiko Miguel)
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