LUCENA CITY –– Three more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in Quezon succumbed to the illness as the surge of new validated virus carriers in the province continued.
In its 10 a.m. bulletin Wednesday, March 17, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reported that two virus carriers in Pagbilao and Infanta towns have died.
On March 16, the IPHO also reported the death of a COVID-19 patient in Sariaya town.
These brought the COVID-19 death toll in Quezon to 269.
Health authorities also reported that there are 44 new confirmed COVID-19 patients, bringing the present total active COVID-19 cases in the province to 278 from only 236 from the last tally at 5 p.m. on March 16.
The 278 virus carriers is a remarkable drop from the highest tally of 1,119 active cases on Nov. 12 last year. The lowest recorded daily tally is 164 on Feb. 25.
At least 24 of the new patients are from Sariaya town that also recorded 25 new cases on March 14.
The said town, only 11 kilometers away from Lucena City, the capital of Quezon, posted the highest number of active cases among all localities in the province, with 70.
Sariaya Vice Mayor Alex Tolentino said the local government has long been strictly implementing all COVID-19 safety protocols to prevent the virus spread.
“But sad to admit, lots now have this complacent attitude. It seems that most are no longer afraid because there were also numerous recoveries,” Tolentino said in a phone interview.
He said local authorities would intensify the information and education drive to dispel the people’s carefree ways.
Quezon, which is still under modified general community quarantine, logged 7,539 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic was declared in March last year. A total of 6,992 have recovered.
The Department of Health allocated 1,686 doses of the China-made Sinovac vaccine, so far, for medical and health workers in Quezon province.
On March 11, authorities started the vaccination rollout at the Quezon Medical Center in this city using the Sinovac vaccine.
The vaccination of health workers in Tagkawayan, Infanta, and Lopez towns hospitals started on March 12.