Eastern Visayas has 7 new COVID-19 patients, all locally stranded individuals

TACLOBAN CITY –– Seven fresh cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were recorded in Eastern Visayas on Monday, bringing the total number of infections in the region to 653.

All seven new cases involved locally stranded individuals (LSIs), said the Department of Health (DOH).

They came from Ormoc City, Leyte, and the towns of Isabel, Tanauan, both in Leyte; and Saint Bernard and Silago towns in Southern Leyte.

These infected persons came from Manila and Cebu, where there are many cases of COVID-19.

They were asymptomatic and were confined at isolation facilities.

Saint Bernard Mayor Manuel Calapre said their new and second COVID-19 patient had been isolated for 27 days.

The new DOH guidelines state that a patient, who has been in isolation for 10 days but no longer shows symptoms of COVID-19, could be discharged from the isolation or quarantine facility.

The patient in Saint Bernard is a 25-year-old man who arrived from Cebu on June 16.

Silago Mayor Pacita Almine said contact tracing was done to identify those who had close contact with the 28-year-man, who arrived in the town from Taguig City last June 26 and tested positive for COVID-19. The patient remained asymptomatic.

Edited by LZB