COVID-19 SURVIVORS. Two Covid-19 survivors in Palo, Leyte receive a certificate after completing the mandatory quarantine and testing negative of the virus in this undated photo. The Department of Health on Monday (Jan. 18, 2021) reported that a total of 11,948 patients in Eastern Visayas have recovered. (Photo courtesy of Palo Mayor Frances Ann Petilla)

TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 11,948 coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in Eastern Visayas have recovered from the illness, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Monday. 

In its latest case bulletin, the region recorded 109 new recoveries while 24 more have been infected –19 in Leyte, three in this city, and one each in Samar and Northern Samar.  

Jelyn Lopez, DOH Eastern Visayas information officer, said the total recoveries represents 92.40 percent of the region’s 12,931 cases recorded since March last year. 

Among the region’s six provinces, 3,518 recoveries were recorded in Leyte, 3,309 in Samar, 1,291 in Northern Samar, 885 in Eastern Samar, 662 in Southern Leyte, and 284 in Biliran. 

The cities of Tacloban and Ormoc recorded 1,477 and 522 total recoveries, respectively. “One factor why the region has maintained a high recovery rate is because most of our patients here are either asymptomatic or have mild (symptoms),” Lopez said in a phone interview. 

Based on the DOH data, 75.91 percent of the region’s patients were asymptomatic, 22.74 percent have mild symptoms, and the rest are severe or critical cases. 

Asymptomatic and mild cases are those managed in local community isolation units and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities, but transferred to a higher health care facility if further management is needed. To date, the region has 822 active cases while 161 patients died of Covid-19 complications, mostly senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, the DOH said. (PNA)