TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas logged its highest coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases this year with 186 new infections on Friday, May 28.
The Department of Health Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH EVCHD), through its Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, reported that the region now has a total of 20,479 COVID-19 cases.
Further, RESU has observed an alarming increase in the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 in the region, saying that of the 306 recorded mortality, 151 or 49.35 percent occurred only between January and May this year.
The monitoring team also noted 71 COVID-19 hotspot barangays in the region or those with three or more cases in the last two weeks.
The health department attributed the spike in cases to the increased mobility of the people due to reduced travel restrictions, and the complacency of the public to the minimum health and safety protocols when in public areas like shopping malls and public markets.
It further explained that the majority of the reported recent cases are caused by super spreader events such as birthday parties, fiesta celebrations, and other social gatherings.
DOH EVCHD reiterates its reminder that while the region, and its counterpart local communities, remains under the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, social gatherings and celebrations pose a danger to the community as such can be potential sources of COVID-19 transmission.
Furthermore, to complement the intensified vaccination activities in the region, the agency calls on the public to strictly and consistently adhere to the minimum public health standards to minimize the risk of exposure and infection.
Meanwhile, the region has not detected any presence of the COVID-19 variant of concern. Based on the latest data that day, 61 of the active cases are mild, 21 are moderate, 7 are severe, and 4 are critical. By Marie Tonette Marticio