WHO concerned on province-bound persons bringing COVID-19 virus

July 3, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday sounded the alarm over a growing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the provinces with those from the National Capital Region (NCR) seen as the ones being the carriers.

In a virtual press briefing, WHO Representative in the Philippines Rabindra Abeyasinghe said they are  concerned over the surge in cases in several regions outside NCR.

"We are seeing increasing evidence of a large number of cases being reported from Regions 4A, 3, 10, 12, and 8 and maybe a few other regions," Abeyasinghe said.

"This is a worrying phenomena," he added.

DOH data shows that Central Luzon has a total of 983 cases, including 164 seen over the last 14 days. Calabarzon has a total of 2,816 cases, including 577 seen over the last two weeks.

Eastern Visayas has a total of 367 cases, including 159 over the last two weeks.

The DOH said Northern Mindanao  has a total of 131 cases, including 51. Soccsksargen has a total of 64 cases, including 18.

Abeyasinghe said they have observed that a large number of the cases in the area were either those who arrived from the NCR or overseas.

This, he said, include repatriated OFW, and locally stranded individuals from NCR.

"The infections in new regions are often times being influenced by people traveling from infected areas, where there is active transmission," he said.

 Abeyasinghe said it is imperative for the national government to ensure all province-bound individuals are properly and quarantined. DMS