51-year-old woman is first COVID-19 case in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — A 51-year old woman who had been to Japan is the first confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Eastern Visayas.

Dr. Minerva Molon, Department of Health regional director, told a news conference in the afternoon of Monday, March 23, that the woman arrived in Manila from Japan on Jan. 2.

She went home to Northern Samar on March 3 but was admitted to a hospital four days later after she had difficulty breathing and had a cold and was coughing.

She was later transferred to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, based in Tacloban City, on March 12.

Her condition improved while at the EVRMC, but swab samples taken from her showed that she was positive for COVID-19.

“The patient’s condition improved and was subsequently wheeled out of the ICU with an occasional cough. She would have been discharged today [Monday] had the result been negative,” Molon said.

Another swab sample was taken from her about 9 a.m. on Monday as part of the protocol to be submitted to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Molon said.

Health authorities went to Northern Samar to conduct contact tracing, Molon added.

“With the current situation in the region, again, I urge the public to stay calm and remain vigilant,” she said.

At present, there were 237 persons under investigation (PUIs) in Eastern Visayas which is composed of the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, and Samar, according to the record of the DOH regional office.

/atm