LUCENA CITY––The surge in COVID-19 cases in Quezon province continues as health authorities recorded on Wednesday 208 new patients, its highest single-day tally since the pandemic began in March last year.
Candelaria town had the highest infections with 56 new cases, followed by Sariaya with 40, and Lucena City, 39, according to the 5 p.m. Sept. 1 bulletin of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
The death toll rose to 967 after the IPHO recorded Wednesday 11 fatalities from COVID-19.
Four deaths were tallied in Candelaria, two each in Lucena City and San Antonio town, and one each in Tagkawayan, Lopez, and Dolores towns.
Quezon, which remains under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until Sept. 7, had been logging an upward trend in COVID-19 cases.
Last month, Quezon recorded an alarming 3,192 COVID-19 cases and 193 deaths, the highest monthly tally since the pandemic began.
In March, the IPHO had 819 cases; April, 2,345; May, 2,413; June, 2,377, and July, 1,712.
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 Aug. 30, the Quezon public information office revealed that the province had 27 COVID-19 Delta variant cases, with five of them active. Two of them are in Lucena and one each in Tiaong and Pagbilao towns.
As of Sept. 1, Quezon has 1,910 active COVID-19 cases from 705 on July 23.
Lucena City, which is under strict modified enhanced community quarantine until Sept. 7, topped the list with 483 active virus carriers. On March 7, there were only seven active cases in the city.
The continued increase in COVID-19 cases is taking a toll on hospital workers in the province, Gov. Danilo Suarez said.
“Most hospitals in COVID-19-stricken towns and cities are now full of patients,” Suarez said.
He appealed to the public to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols, such as wearing face masks and face shields and observing safe distancing.
He said residents should stay home if they have no essential things to do outside.
City Mayor Roderick Alcala urged all local governments to strictly implement border controls to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus.
Two of the 41 localities in the province were COVID-19-free as of Sept. 1.
The only areas with zero COVID-19 cases are San Andres town and the island municipality of Patnanungan.
Those previously infected in these municipalities have either recovered or died, the report said.