Batangas COVID-19 death toll hits 423

LUCENA CITY –– At least 14 more deaths from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were recorded in Batangas province since March 1, local health authorities said, bringing the total death toll to 423, the Batangas Provincial Public Information Office (PIO) disclosed on Monday, March 15.

Two validated virus carriers in Calatagan and Mataas na Kahoy towns were the latest fatalities, the record showed. No details on these fatalities were given.

The PHO report said 59 virus carriers had died due to the illness since the start of 2021. Last year, the province recorded 364 COVID-19 deaths.

Batangas, which remains under general community quarantine, has recorded 13,443 COVID-19 cases and 12,541 recoveries since the pandemic was declared in March last year.

The province has 479 remaining active virus carriers, topped by Lipa City with 95; and followed by Batangas City, the provincial capital, with 49.

Batangas City has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the province with 2,589, followed by Lipa City with 1,564.

At least 96 of the active virus carriers were confined in different hospitals, 276 in non-health facilities or community isolation centers, and 107 on home quarantine.

The province has also listed 864 active “suspect” cases and 33 active “probable” cases.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), a person is considered a suspected carrier if he/she shows symptoms like fever, cough, or sore throat two weeks after contact with an infected person, or had traveled to a place where there is a case of infection.

Those with symptoms but belong to what is considered a vulnerable segment of the population — the elderly, those with preexisting health conditions, pregnant women, and health care workers — are also considered COVID-19 suspects.

A person is a probable case if his/her COVID-19 results are inconclusive, and he/she has been tested in an unofficial laboratory.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has allocated 1,424 doses of Sinovac vaccines for Batangas medical and health workers.

The vaccination roll-out in the province started at the Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery town on March 10.

LZB