Halfway through February, the number of COVID-19 cases in the province of Catanduanes increased slightly by just eight cases to 176.
This is a huge reduction from last month which saw a total of 38 cases, the highest number recorded in a span of four months.
On Feb. 5, 2021, two new confirmed coronavirus cases were logged by the Provincial Health Office.
Patient Bicol #4438 is a 19-year old female student from Pandan who was exposed to a confirmed case. She was noted to have cough and colds on Jan. 25 and was isolated.
Patient #4439 is a 30-year old female government employee from Bato who had fever on Jan. 29, colds and sore throat on Feb. 1, and loss of sense of smell and taste on Feb. 4, and was isolated. Possible exposure to a confirmed case has yet to be determined.
After a lull of eight days, seven new cases were added to the list on Feb. 13.
Patient # 4570 is a 67-year old housewife from Caramoran who had colds and shortness of breath on Jan. 28 and was isolated.
Patient #4571 is a 28-year old female barangay official from Virac who suffered fever and body pains on Feb. 6 and was isolated.
Patient #4572 is a 28-year old female government employee from Virac who was exposed to a confirmed case. The asymptomatic case was quarantined.
Patient #4573 is a female private employee from Virac who was asymptomatic when tested and was quarantined.
Patient #4574 is a 34-year old male security guard frp, Virac who was also asymptomatic and was quarantined.
Patient #4575 is a 32-year old female health worker from Viga who was asymptomatic and was quarantined.
Patient #4608 is a 31-year old female private employee from Panganiban who was asymptomatic and was quarantined.
A few of the new cases are alleged to be linked to the temporary closure of the Virac branch of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), which announced it would be closed from Feb. 8-19 “as a precautionary measure to help control the spread of coronavirus disease.”
It referred clients to DBP Legazpi branch for their banking needs and to the bank’s electronic banking channels.
As of Feb. 13, 2021, a total of 160 confirmed cases have recovered, with 13 still in quarantine. The death toll from the coronavirus remains at three (3), all from Virac.
The active cases are in Virac (6), Pandan (2), San Andres (1), San Miguel (1), Caramoran (1), Viga (1), and Panganiban (1).
By town, the total number of cases are as follows: Virac, 107; Bato, 17; San Andres, 13; Baras, 8; San Miguel and Panganiban, 6 each; Gigmoto and Pandan, 4 each; and, Caeamoran and Viga, 3 each.