No COVID-19 deaths recorded in Eastern Visayas despite surge in cases, Año says

Even though there is an increase in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Eastern Visayas, no death was recorded in the region, specifically in the province of Leyte, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

"Totoo na nag-surge talaga ang positive cases sa kabuuan ng Region VIII pero pinakamarami sa Leyte. Ngayon ay mayroon na silang 392 active cases, total of 431 cases... Pati mga health workers, nasa 80 ang infected," Año said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Ang maganda naman sa Region VIII, particularly sa Leyte, ay zero deaths, walang namatay dito at napakakaunti lang 'yung nasa critical cases. Maganda 'yung pagkaka-manage ng government officials at health centers," he added.

According to Año, government officials there are requesting for the temporary suspension of the return of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in the region as isolation facilities are already full.

Reports said the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas was due to the arrival of LSIs.

"Ang request ng local government dito ay mag-suspend muna ng LSI ng 14 days habang pinapatapos nila 'yung quarantine sa mga una dahil sa ngayon puno ang kanilang quarantine. Kung darating ang mga LSI, wala silang paglalagyan," Año said.

On Wednesday, Año and National Task Force on COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez visited and checked the situation in Tacloban City, after going to Cebu City, which is now under lockdown due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. —KBK, GMA News