22 Leyte health workers positive for COVID

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines –  Eighteen health workers at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Six doctors, seven nurses, two nursing attendants, two radiology technicians, two physical therapists and a driver were quarantined in the hospital.

The Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas regional office is in talks with officials of hotels to be converted into isolation facilities for those exposed to the health workers.

The emergency departments of the EVRMC branches in Barangays Cabalawan and Magsaysay were closed for disinfection.

Minerva Molon, DOH regional director, said four other health workers at the Leyte Provincial Hospital were also infected.

Molon said the 22 health workers are among the 59 new confirmed cases in the region. There are now 264 cases in Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, two police officers in Iloilo are among the six new cases in Western Visayas.

One of the police officers was assigned at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district. The other  rendered duty in one of the hotels used by repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), also in Iloilo.

Returnees, OFWs

As this developed, more returning residents and OFWs in Northern Luzon have tested positive for COVID-19, results released yesterday showed.

Among them is a 34-year-old OFW who arrived from Saudi Arabia and returned to Diadi town on June 7.

An OFW who arrived from the United Arab Emirates became the latest case in Vintar town in Ilocos Norte.

The province was declared COVID-free two months ago.

Two Balik Probinsya beneficiaries who returned to San Mariano, Isabela and Enrile, Cagayan were also infected.

Two residents stranded in Cebu and a returning OFW are among the five new cases in Zamboanga City Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Roel Pareño, Jennifer Rendon