COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Visayas

COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Visayas
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationEastern Visayas
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseCatarman
Arrival dateMarch 23, 2020
(4 years, 8 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
Confirmed cases67,099
Recovered65,998
Deaths
867
Government website
ro8.doh.gov.ph

The COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Visayas is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus reached Eastern Visayas on March 23, 2020, when the first case of the disease was confirmed in Northern Samar.

Timeline

The first COVID-19 case in Eastern Visayas was reported on March 23, 2020. The case involved a 51-year-old female who arrived in Catarman, Northern Samar on March 4 after living in San Juan, Metro Manila for about two months. She was admitted to a hospital within the province before she was referred to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban on March 12.[1] The second case in the region was confirmed on March 31 and involved a 63-year-old male in Calbayog, Samar who also had travel history to Metro Manila and was admitted to the EVRMC.[2][3]

Leyte confirmed its first case on April 17, which was a 58-year-old female from Burauen who had a history of travel to Guam and Manila.[4]

Community transmission in the town of Tarangnan, Samar has been confirmed by the Department of Health's Eastern Visayas field office on April 27. At the time 13 of the region's cases came from the town.[5] By May 15, the cases in the town alone has increased to 19, with 24 cases in recorded in Eastern Visayas overall. By that time, the regional office of the health department has been conducting mass testing in the town.[6]

Biliran recorded its first case on June 3, when a 19-year-old who underwent swab testing on May 27, tested positive for COVID-19.[7] Tacloban also recorded its first case on the same day when a 29-year-old female seafarer who is a resident of the city also tested positive for COVID-19. The patient arrived in the city through a chartered flight on June 1.[8] Ormoc recorded its first case on June 5.[9]

Southern Leyte recorded its first case on June 11, that of a returning overseas Filipino worker who arrived in the province on May 31.[10] Eastern Samar became the last province to record its first case on June 13 when it was announced that a resident of Mercedes tested positive for COVID-19.[11]

Response

The Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center tests suspected COVID-19 cases in the region since May 11.[12] Testing was disrupted in May 2020 due to Typhoon Vongfong (Ambo) which cause a delay to the restocking of testing kits.[13] Suspected cases in Eastern Visayas were previously tested at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.[14]

Religion

The Juan Sebastián de Elcano only docked off the coast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as part of the celebrations of 500 years of Christianity.[15] Since the crew were not allowed to disembark and the ship was not open to visitors, a flottila of private motorized boats were utilized to be able to see the ship up close in person.

References

  1. ^ Meniano, Sarwell (March 23, 2020). "DOH confirms first Covid-19 case in Eastern Visayas". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  2. ^ "DOH confirms 2nd Covid-19 case in Eastern Visayas". Philippine News Agency. March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Meniano, Sarwell (April 7, 2020). "2 Samar hospital workers catch coronavirus". Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Leyte province reports first confirmed coronavirus case". Rappler. April 17, 2020. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "DOH 8 confirms community transmission in Samar town with 6 new COVID-19 cases". Manila Bulletin. April 27, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "DOH-8 confirms 4 new COVID-19 cases in Tarangnan, Samar". Department of Health – Region 8. May 15, 2020. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "19-year-old male is Biliran's first COVID-19 case". CNN Philippines. June 3, 2020. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Marticio, Marie Tonette (June 4, 2020). "Tacloban City records 1st COVID case". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 5, 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Ormoc City confirms first COVID-19 infection". CNN Philippines. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  10. ^ "Southern Leyte reports first COVID-19 case". CNN Philippines. June 12, 2020. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Eastern Samar records its first COVID-19 case". CNN Philippines. June 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center starts RT-PCR testing". Rappler. May 11, 2020. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Covid-19 testing at E. Visayas lab put on hold: DOH". Philippine News Agency. May 21, 2020. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  14. ^ "East Visayas Covid-19 testing center now operational". Philippine News Agency. May 13, 2020. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Rocamora, Joyce Ann L. (March 16, 2021). "Spanish ship 'Elcano' drops anchor in Eastern Samar". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.