Cebuano is 34th Covid-19 case in C. Visayas: DOH-7

CEBU CITY – A 42-year old man from this city has become the 34th confirmed case of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Central Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH)-Central Visayas report said.

Dr. Jaime Bernadas, regional director of DOH-7 Center for Health Development, said in a late Thursday situation report that out of 80 specimens tested at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Sub-National Laboratory (VSMMC-SNL), 79 results were negative.

The latest data includes the results of the repeat tests for those who were initially positive but have now tested negative, Bernadas said.

He said the patient from this city has mild symptoms and “has been on strict home isolation even before the result was released”.

“This now brings the total cases in the city to 22. There are four patients who have now tested negative, recovered and discharged,” he said.

He said the four patients who have recovered and discharged came from Cebu City (2), Mandaue City (1), and Cebu Province (1), adding that “all in all, the region has seven confirmed cases that have been treated and are now free of the virus,” including the 60-year old female Chinese visitor in Bohol.

On Wednesday, three patients were also tested positive of Covid-19, after two consecutive days (March 30 and 31) that the DOH-7 recorded zero increase, bringing the current count of confirmed cases of the viral disease to 34.

According to Bernadas, the VSMMC SNL has already tested 542 specimens since it became operations on March 21, 2020.

“The DOH-7 has committed to continue efforts to expand the testing capacity of the region. It is exploring the testing potential of public and private hospitals in each component province in the region so that each province will have at least one laboratory capable and accredited for testing for Covid-19,” he added.

The slow increase in the detected positive cases of Covid-19 should not be taken as a sign of success of the containment measures established to contain the virus, he said. “It is still too early to see its impact,” he stressed.

Bernadas expressed optimism that the increasing number of confirmed patients who have now recovered “gives us hope that Covid-19 is manageable.”

“The hospitals in the region have proven that with support and prayers little victories can happen,” he said.

He added the “limitation in movement has placed on hold a lot of health services.”

He said the immunization program has reportedly been temporarily suspended or “at least limited by some of the local health authorities.”

“But if there is one big lesson this pandemic has taught us, it is that vaccines work. As the world awaits the creation of a vaccine for Covid-19 to stop its spread, let us not take for granted the protection being offered by the existing vaccines we already have as part of the National Immunization Program,” Bernadas said.

He encouraged residents of the four provinces in Central Visayas to still maintain social or physical distancing, regular handwashing and mindful of individual’s overall health to keep the number of Covid-infected people low.

“To keep depression away, let us not forget to be physically and mentally fit by doing physical exercises indoors and connecting with family and friends online or through call,” he said. (PNA)

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