WHO: Rising cases of COVID in many regions worrisome

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday described as a “worrying phenomena” the increasing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in many regions of the Philippines.

- SHEILA CRISOSTOMO

At a press briefing, WHO Philippine Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said they are seeing a “concentration” of cases in many regions and oftentimes, this has been “influenced by people traveling from infected areas where there is an active transmission” of COVID-19.

He cited the National Capital Region (NCR), which is the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, and Central Visayas, particularly Cebu City now under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to rising cases.

“Worryingly, we are seeing increasing evidence of a large number of cases being reported from Region 4A, Region 3, Region 12, and Region 8 and maybe a few other regions. This is a worrying phenomenon,” he noted.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) described Cebu City and Cebu province in Region 7; Ormoc City, Southern Leyte, Leyte, and Samar in Region 8 as “emerging hotspots for the virus.”

Other areas are Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental in Region 10; Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental in Region 11; South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat in Region 12 and Maguindanao in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

DOH data show as of July 2, NCR had 19,005 cases of COVID-19 while Central Visayas or Region 7 had 8,096; Region 8 or Eastern Visayas had 367; Region 10 or Northern Mindanao has 131, and Region 12 or SOCCSKSARGEN has 64 cases.

Abeyasinghe added the emergence of cases in these areas was driven by the “return of locally stranded individuals and repatriates coming from other countries.”