CEBU, Philippines — Central Visayas now has 26 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and 23 of these cases are from Cebu, the Department of Health (DOH)-7 disclosed in an update yesterday.
The said figures are based on DOH-7 data as of 12 noon of March 28, 2020.
Of the 23 cases in Cebu, 19 are from Cebu City, two are from Lapu-Lapu City, one is from Mandaue City, and one is from Cebu Province.
Of the 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas, two have recovered while four have died. Twenty others are still admitted in hospitals.
Two patients of the 19 cases in Cebu City have died – a 65-year-old man who passed away on March 23 and a 66-year-old woman who died on March 27. One patient has recovered.
Meanwhile, two of the 26 positive cases are from Negros Oriental – a 64-year-old man who died last March 15 and a 61-year-old woman who died last March 23.
One other was recorded as a patient from Bohol, but is actually a tourist from China who has already recovered in January.
Bernadas said contact tracing of those who tested positive of the virus is ongoing and is being conducted by local health workers with the help of law enforcement personnel.
He urged those who have been identified to have made contact with the people found positive to cooperate and follow the instructions of local government personnel to minimize, if not eliminate the risk of spreading the virus further.
"We ask the public not to panic as containment measures have already been in place in coordination with the respective local government units and the local police of the confirmed cases," Bernadas said.
"We call upon the communities that may be the residence of confirmed cases to not be panic and be violent against their contacts and their household. In this time of crisis, we need to practice sobriety to ensure that our collective welfare and safety," Bernadas said.
He said a spike in the number of cases may be expected once another laboratory becomes operational and testing capacity here increases.
The new testing of samples was done at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, which has been designated and capacitated by DOH-7 Center for Health Development as asub-national laboratory for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases in the Visayas.
Bernadas reminded the public of proven ways to contain the virus such as social/physical distancing, regular handwashing, avoiding large crowds, and staying indoors especially if the health is vulnerable.
He also reminded netizens to refrain from sharing unverified and unvalidated information as this may spread panic and confusion, and to rely on official sources of information. JMO (FREEMAN)