COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas top 100,000
FILE PHOTO: A health worker administers a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a resident. PHOTO COURTESY OF OFFICE OF ILOILO CITY MAYOR
ILOILO CITY — The total number of COVID-19 infections in Western Visayas has breached the 100,000 mark as the surge in cases, believed to be due to the Delta variant, continues.
The Department of Health (DOH) regional office reported 807 new cases on Thursday, bringing the cumulative total since March last year to 100,858.
Thirteen additional fatalities were reported with deaths in the region totaling 2,401.
The DOH in Western Visayas reported 11,375 active cases as of August 26 including 4,259 in Iloilo province, 1,439 in Iloilo City, 1,349 in Negros Occidental, 1,118 in Capiz, 936 in Aklan, 925 in Antique, and 425 in Guimaras.
The Iloilo City government plans to put up modular hospitals amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas believed to be due to the more infectious Delta variant.
Article continues after this advertisementIloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city government is seeking the help of the Secretary Francisco Duque III of the Department of Health and Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways to put up three modular hospitals with a total of 66 COVID-19 hospital beds.
Article continues after this advertisementThe city has 1,500 isolation beds in schools, hotels, and city-government facilities.
But the continued increase in cases on Panay and Guimaras islands are straining the available COVID-19 beds in hospitals in the city and isolation and quarantine facilities.
“We will just prepare for the surge of cases brought about by the Delta variant,” Treñas said.
Iloilo City’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout has been opened to non-residents amid the continued increase in cases on Panay Island which has strained hospitals in the city, the regional center.
Non-city residents who want to be vaccinated are being catered to every Thursday in vaccination sites.
The city aims to inoculate around 525,000 residents and non-residents working in the city.
But Treñas nearly 75 percent of the target population remains unvaccinated which he said could be due to vaccine hesitation.
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For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
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