SAN PEDRO CITY –– The densely populated region of Calabarzon has recorded 22 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the regional Department of Health said Thursday.
Data gathered in the region until 5 p.m. of March 18 showed that most cases were recorded in Rizal province, where many of its towns lie close to Metro Manila.
Rizal, specifically the town of Cainta, has three deaths.
The DOH said Rizal has nine cases (seven in Cainta and two in Antipolo City).
In Batangas, three from the capital Batangas City tested positive for COVID-19, one in Lipa City, and one in Lemery town.
In Cavite, two cases were recorded in Imus City, and one case each in Silang, Tanza, Bacoor City, and Dasmariñas City.
One case each was recorded in Laguna (Sta. Rosa City) and Quezon (Lucena City).
As of Thursday, 359 people across the region are considered persons under investigation (PUIs).
Local and regional government hospitals only have minimal bed capacity for COVID-19 patients, with many of the patients confined in private hospitals in the region or Metro Manila.
Specimen samples of the 359 PUIs are being tested at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.