COVID-19 cases in Batangas increased after jobs, businesses resumed under GCQ —governor

Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas on Saturday said COVID-19 cases in their province have increased following the resumption of work and businesses under the less stricter general community quarantine (GCQ).

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Mandanas said Batangas has a high number per capita of overseas Filipino workers who went home to the province during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that 20% of business process outsourcing (BPO) workers in Metro Manila are from Batangas.

"'Yung dami ng workers ngayon na pinapayagang magbalik-balikan, siyempre dumadami ang ating mga confirmed cases," Mandanas said.

Mandanas meanwhile attributed the deaths of COVID-19 patients in the province to comorbidity.

"In-analyze namin 'yung talagang namamatay at saka 'yung critical at severe. Nakita namin na halos 90% ay merong comorbidity."

"Dahil sa aming pag-aaral lamang, doon natin sinabi ay 'pag wala kang comorbidity para ka lamang nagka-flu," he added.

The Batangas governor thus said they are also responding to patients who have heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

As of September 25, there are 6,342 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Batangas, with 2,602 admitted, 163 deaths and 3,577 recoveries.

The Philippines has recorded 299,361 cases and 5,196 deaths as of Friday, according to the Department of Health. —KG, GMA News