Confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Western Visayas climbed to 3,555, the region’s Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) said in its August 24 bulletin.

In Monday’s virtual presser, medical officer and spokesperson of the DOH-CHD 6 (Western Visayas), Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, said the region has logged 115 new infections, along with seven recoveries and a single fatality.

Of the new cases, 11 were returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 104 were local cases.

Among the local cases, Iloilo City logged the highest number with 41; followed by Iloilo province and Bacolod City with 20 each; Negros Occidental with 10; Capiz with seven; and Guimaras with six.

Nine of the 11 ROFs were from Negros Occidental and one each from the city and province of Iloilo.

Te said 90 of the new cases were asymptomatic, 21 have influenza-like illness, and four have severe acute respiratory infection.

The new recoveries were from the 888 results released by the sub-national and molecular laboratories in the region, she said.

“With these new confirmed cases, Region 6 now has a total of 3,555 confirmed Covid-19 cases. Of these, 1,971 are active cases,” Te said.

Recoveries also increased to 1,530 while mortality has reached 54.

The lone mortality was a 46-year-old man from Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, Te said private hospitals in the region committed to hike their Covid-19 bed capacity by 7 percent in the next four weeks.

The total Covid-19 hospital bed capacity in the region stands at 268.

Last week, it was reported that Covid-19 beds in DOH-managed hospitals in the region have already reached the critical level. (PNA)