Caraga COVID-19 cases: From 8 to 87 in 3 weeks

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur— Another 31 persons tested positive for SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in the Caraga region, raising the region’s tally to 87, or a tenfold increase in barely three weeks from just eight cases.

Of the 31 new cases, eight are infections of mining workers in Claver town, Surigao del Norte; 22 are those of persons stranded in infected places and one was from a returning overseas Filipino worker, according to the Center for Health Development of the regional DOH office.

Dr. Jose R. Llacuna Jr., DOH regional director, said 27 of the new patients did not show symptoms while four had mild symptoms and had been quarantined already.

Aside from eight miners in Claver town, the DOH listed these cases in the region:

• Four in Surigao City
• Three each in Butuan City and Alegria town in Surigao del Norte
• Two each in the towns of Placer, Socorro and Malimono also in Surigao del Norte
• One case in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur
• One case each in the Cabadbaran City and Buenavista town in Agusan del Norte

At least 20 of the newly-infected persons were male while 11 were female with ages ranging from 21 to 30-years-old.

The surge in cases prompted local government units in the region to enforce stringent measures to stop the virus transmission.

In Butuan City, a new ordinance was passed requiring passengers to undergo tests worth P500 and giving a 20 percent discount in fare to senior citizens, students, solo parents, disabled persons, indigenous peoples and government workers.

In Agusan del Sur, the COVID-19 Task Force required all government workers from Butuan City to undergo coronavirus tests.

Edited by TSB