Visayas ‘outpaces’ Luzon, Mindanao in virus transmission

With the onslaught of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic still ongoing, the Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday disclosed that the Visayas region has already ‘outpaced’ Luzon and Mindanao in terms of recorded “steepest increase” in Covid-19 cases.

DoH Epidemiology Bureau Director Alethea de Guzman said that Western Visayas recorded a 63-percent growth in Covid-19 cases while Central Visayas logged a 59-percent increase and Eastern Visayas reported a 118-percent spike in the last two weeks.

“Visayas now has the steepest increase in cases among the island groups, surpassing numbers in NCR Plus areas,” De Guzman said.

The DoH official added that virus infection in the Visayas may have risen due to the disregard in following basic health protocols like the proper wearing of masks, frequent hand washing and physical distancing.

She added that several people were reported to have been holding gatherings and celebrations in Visayas.

“These gatherings, they become superspreader events in these areas... We are seeing some increases in work places also,” De Guzman said.

However, De Guzman noted that while the Health department is already closely monitoring the rise in cases in Visayas, it cannot set aside the National Capital Region (NCR) and eight other provinces where the Covid-19 situation remains fragile.

Cases in the Visayas rose due to minimal observance of basic health protocols like the proper wearing of masks, frequent hand washing and physical distancing.

“It means we will have another spike in cases once we have another superspreader event,” said De Guzman.

“ICU occupancy rates are also going up. Even if we have low cases now, there is still a possibility that ICU beds would reach full capacity,” she added.