Quezon province logs 147 new COVID-19 cases, another record-high daily tally

LUCENA CITY – Quezon province posted a record of 147 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the new highest single-day tally since the pandemic began in March last year.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in its 5 p.m. bulletin issued on August 21 showed that Lucena City posted the highest, with 30 new cases, followed by Sariaya town with 26, and Candelaria, 17.

On Aug. 20, the IPHO recorded 140 new cases and 134 on August 16.

The death toll rose to 899 after the IPHO recorded nine more fatalities from COVID-19. At least 136 of them died this month.

The towns of Sariaya, Tiaong and Pagbilao recorded two latest deaths each while Candelaria, Lopez and Lucban logged one each.

Quezon, which remains under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until August 31, has been recording an alarming upward trend in active COVID-19 cases since last month.

As of August 21, there were 1,446 active cases, from only 705 on July 23. Lucena, the provincial capital, has again topped the list with 322 active virus carriers.

On March 7, the total active cases in the city were down to seven, only to spike in May until they reached the current level.

The rising number of new cases in the province could be partly due to the public’s disregard of health and safety protocols, according to Dr. Grace Santiago, IPHO head.

On August 18, the Department of Health revealed that Quezon has eight confirmed Delta variant cases, the highly transmissible mutation of the coronavirus.

At least eight of the 41 municipalities in Quezon province no longer have any recorded active COVID-19 cases as of August 21.

The areas now considered COVID-19-free are the municipalities of San Andres, San Narciso, General Luna, Mulanay, Guinayangan and the island towns of Patnanungan, Panukulan and Perez.

Those previously infected in these municipalities have either recovered or died, the report said.