‘Zero Death’ from Covid-19 for 2 Days in C. Visayas

For two straight days, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 (Central Visayas) recorded no fatality from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The last two confirmed cases who died were reported on Sunday, which brought the total deaths from Covid-19 in the region to eight.

Based on the DOH-7 situation report on Tuesday, the fatalities were a 72-year-old woman from Cebu province who was identified only as patient CV-19-CP and an 84-year-old man from Cebu City. They both died on April 5.

As of Tuesday, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Sub-National Laboratory (VSMMC-SNL) has tested a total of 132 specimens for two days (Monday and Tuesday) and discovered only one positive case, bringing the total count in Central Visayas to 36.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, director of DOH-7 Center for Health Development, bared that the latest confirmed Covid-19 case is a 68-year-old man from Cebu City listed as patient CV-36-CC.

According to the situation report, the patient who is confined in a hospital here emerged as the lone confirmed case from among the 78 patients whose specimens were tested in the VSMMC-SNL.

“The other 77 results are negative for Covid-19. These included the six (results) previously confirmed positive cases that are now laboratory negative,” Bernadas said.

The 54 specimens tested last Monday were all found to be negative, he said.

Bernadas said the total number of laboratory negative cases in the region is now 19.

With another positive result recorded, Cebu City has 23 cases followed by Lapu-Lapu City with three, and Mandaue City with two.

“Among the provinces, Negros Oriental has the most number at four cases, followed by Cebu province at three, and Bohol at one. Siquijor remains to have no case of Covid-19,” he added.

The confirmed case from Bohol was the 60-year-old Chinese woman who had recovered from Covid-19.

“The increasing number of cases that have cleared the virus from their system is good news. This has shown that although our patients are from the high-risk groups, timely testing, and appropriate management can increase the fighting chance of those infected by Covid-19,” Bernadas said.

The result, he said, encourages the DOH-7 “to intensify our commitment to containment measures and thinking always for the well-being of not just ourselves but of those around us.” (PNA)