Bulacan COVID cases reach 100

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-six new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were recorded in Bulacan on Friday.

The provincial health office said the number of confirmed cases in the provinces jumped to 100, with 22 fatalities.

The latest fatality is a 61-year-old resident of Marilao.

San Jose del Monte City and Marilao each recorded five cases; Malolos City, four; Baliwag, Balagtas and Meycauayan City, two each, and Angat, Bulakan, Guiguinto, Pandi, Paombong and San Rafael, one each.

The Bataan Inter-Agency Task Force said a 74-year-old man from Balanga City is the fourth COVID-19 fatality in the province.

The number of confirmed cases rose to 77 as 13 health workers at the Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) tested positive for the virus. 

The new cases bring to 42 the number of infected doctors, nurses, nursing attendants and other health workers at the BGHMC.

In Butuan City, the second COVID-19 patient is confined at the Caraga Regional Hospital.

70.58 % recovery rate

Baguio City posted a recovery rate of 70.58 percent as 12 of its 17 patients have recovered.

With only one fatality, the city has a fatality rate of 5.89 percent.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong credited the high recovery rate to “competent doctors and nursing staff, caring health workers and cooperative community.”

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center officer Ricardo Nuñez also cited ”proactive city officials” and the policies they initiated to prevent the spread of the disease.

Mayor Brian Lim of Dagupan City, Pangasinan lifted the lockdown in Barangay Pogo Chico yesterday after two medical workers were cleared of the virus.

Two other medical workers in the city have recovered.

In Zamboanga peninsula, the number of COVID-19 patients is down to four after two have recovered and were discharged from the Zamboanga City Medical Center yesterday.

Another patient, who was confined at the same hospital, had earlier recovered. Three other patients in Zamboanga del Sur have been cleared of the virus.

Mass testing

Mass testing for COVID-19 in Lipa City, Batangas will start next week, Mayor Eric Africa said.

The Department of Health-Calabarzon office said the city has the highest number of cases in the region at 20. Five patients, including a 23-day-old baby, died.

Seven doctors and nurses are among those infected. 

In Leyte, the provincial board passed an ordinance prohibiting discrimination or harassment against COVID-19 patients and frontliners.

The ordinance cited incidents of people being evicted or prevented from returning to their homes even though they have recovered from the disease.

Violators face up to one year imprisonment and a fine of P5,000. 

Stranded workers

Meanwhile, 43 workers stranded in Metro Manila since the Luzon-wide lockdown was imposed last month returned to Albay after completing a 14-day quarantine and securing the required clearances from the provincial government.

The workers sought shelter at the Redemptorist Church compound in Baclaran, Parañaque City.

Aside from free transportation provided by Misibis Bay Resort, the workers were given food packs.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co distributed relief goods and financial assistance to the workers.

Co thanked Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara and other concerned local government units for approving border passes to facilitate the trip of the workers. – Artemio Dumlao, Miriam Desacada, Ric Sapnu, Arnell Ozaeta, Roel Pareño, Eva Visperas, Ben Serrano