Eastern Visayas has recorded 105 new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases, bringing the region’s cumulative total to 12,300 as of Wednesday.

In its latest case bulletin, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 36 new cases in Leyte, 11 in Eastern Samar, eight in Samar, and five in Southern Leyte.

The cities of Tacloban and Ormoc have 31 and 14 new cases, respectively.

They are part of the 1,079 swab results from the region’s three testing laboratories. These are the Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Center and Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory, both in this city, and the Ormoc Molecular Diagnostic Center.

Marc Steven Capungcol, DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit head, said recent cases reported in the region were acquired in family gatherings and other social events during the holiday celebrations.

“Based on the investigation of our contact tracing team, some cases involved members of the same household. We also observed that many people gathered in shopping malls and other public places. The region also has three active testing laboratories that contribute to the rising cases in the region,” he said a virtual presser.

Meanwhile, the region has recorded a total of 11,382 recoveries since March, as 41 more patients have recovered from the illness.

The DOH attributed the region’s high recovery rate to the equally high percentage of asymptomatic or mild patients, which is 98.7 percent of the total. The rest are severe and active cases.

Asymptomatic or 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 769 active cases, while 149 patients have died due to complications, mostly senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, the DOH said. (PNA)