LUCENA CITY – A 79-year-old woman from Catanauan town was the latest fatality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Quezon province, authorities said.
The municipal government of Catanauan announced her death on social media on Saturday.
The fatality, a resident of Barangay Matandang Sabang Silangan, tested positive for the virus on Friday and was diagnosed with hypertension and heart disease. The woman, the fourth recorded fatality in the town, had a travel history to Quezon City last December 29.
The COVID-19 death toll in Quezon stood at 199. At least 11 of the fatalities were recorded after Christmas and New Year.
Lucena, the provincial capital, had the highest number of fatalities with 47.
The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), in its 10 a.m. bulletin on Sunday (Jan. 10), said there are now 347 active virus carriers in the province.
The figure is a dramatic rise from 245 on Jan. 4, the lowest daily tally of active COVID-19 cases in the province during the Christmas break.
Lucena City has also been recording a steady rise in the number of COVID-19 cases after the holiday season. As of Sunday, the city has 79 active virus carriers from only 46 on Jan. 3.
The rising cases seemed to confirm health authorities’ fears of a surge in cases following Christmas and New Year festivities after a brief respite during the holiday break.
As of Sunday, 17 of 41 towns have had no new COVID-19 case, down from 20 towns earlier listed as free of the disease.