TACLOBAN CITY –– Eastern Visayas on Wednesday recorded 244 new cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the highest single-day count in the region since the pandemic began.
Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health in the region (DOH-8), said she was surprised by the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases in the region.
“We have noticed that the minimum health standards were not followed like not observing social distancing and the improper wearing of face mask and face shield,” she said.
The health official said these concerns are noticeable in public places like shopping malls, where the transmission of the deadly virus could be high.
The highest number of new cases were recorded in Leyte with 82 and Tacloban City with 35.
All the remaining five provinces in the region also recorded new COVID-19 cases: Samar with 56; Eastern Samar with 53; Biliran, 20; Northern Samar, 17; and Southern Leyte, 16.
The rural health center in Mapanas town, Northern Samar was closed indefinitely after three of its nurses tested positive for COVID-19.
In Guiuan town, Eastern Samar, the last days of “Misa de Gallo” or dawn Masses leading up to Christmas day were canceled after the town experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases.
As of Wednesday, Eastern Visayas has 10,456 COVID-19 with 118 deaths.