C. Visayas Records 27 New Covid-19 Cases

Twenty-seven more patients were tested positive of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Central Visayas, bringing the total cases to 95, the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 said.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH-7 regional director, bared that the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center– Sub-National Laboratory (VSMMC-SNL) on Thursday released 211 test results, with 27 found positive.

Bernadas, however, said despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in the region, health authorities have monitored slower mortality.

The DOH-record showed that from April 5 to 16, the fatality due to Covid-19 remains eight, with 23 patients labeled as “laboratory negative” after tests from VSMMC-SNL.

“The additional number of confirmed cases resulted in the further decrease of the case fatality rate or the percentage of deaths among those who are infected with Covid -19 from 11 percent to 8 percent. All of the new confirmed cases have negative to mild symptoms,” he said.

Cebu City remains the epicenter of the disease transmission with 77 cases, after 24 new confirmed cases were found during Thursday testing.

The other three of the new cases are from Lapu-Lapu City, bringing the total cases to seven. Mandaue City’s cases remain at three.

He said no new cases were recorded in the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental.

Siquijor remains to have no documented case of Covid-19, he added.

The DOH-7 Center for Health Development, he said, continues to remind the citizens to follow strictly containment measures that are being implemented by local authorities.

“We also call on the residents in the areas being contained by our local governments units to obey and respect the restrictions on their movement. This is the time we look beyond our personal inconveniences for the greater good,” he said.

He added the success of their efforts to decrease transmission and the number of confirmed cases depends on the way they behave during these trying times.

Bernadas urged the public to cooperate with the authorities in order not “to put into waste the little wins we have achieved as we fight Covid-19 together until we successfully see the resolution of this pandemic”.

“In times of crisis, we all need to be not just good citizens but also good neighbors; looking out for the welfare not just of our own families but of those around us. Let us be better citizens for a healthier community and heal as one Central Visayas, one Philippines,” he said. (PNA)