TACLOBAN CITY –– A 46-year-old man from this city died of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Monday, bringing the number of deaths in Eastern Visayas to 56.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the man was buried immediately as part of the protocols in handling COVID-19 deaths.
Tacloban City has 864 COVID-19 cases where 62 remained active with 14 deaths.
The DOH also reported that Eastern Visayas has logged 88 new cases of COVID-19.
The region now has 5,981 cases as of Wednesday (Oct.21).
The 88 new cases are from Samar province with 29; Southern Leyte,24; Northern Samar, 23; and Leyte province with 12.
At least 11 staff members of the GB Tan Memorial Hospital in Laoang town, Northern Samar also tested positive for COVID-19.
Of the number, seven are nurses; three are attendants, and one kitchen personnel.
Two patients of the hospital also tested positive for COVID-19.
In Catarman, the provincial capital of Northern Samar, all of its 23 barangays located within the town proper were placed under enhanced community quarantine for 15 days starting Oct. 20.
These villages have confirmed three or more COVID-19 cases.
In Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, a 34-year old inmate at its custodial facility also tested positive for COVID-19.