Seven more coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in Sarangani province have been declared by health authorities as fully recovered and recommended for discharge, increasing its total recoveries as of Thursday morning to 53.

Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon said the province’s recovery rate is now at 80 percent, with only 13 of the 66 confirmed cases still active and being monitored by health personnel in three of its seven municipalities.

He said Malapatan and Malungon towns have five active cases each while Maasim has three, with all patients in stable condition and mostly asymptomatic.

“We’re only waiting for negative results in their repeat swab tests so they can be discharged and allowed to return to their homes,” he said in a statement.

Solon said all confirmed Covid-19 patients in the municipalities of Alabel, Glan, Kiamba and Maitum have already recovered, with no new cases recorded so far.

He described the development as a huge boost to the local government’s efforts to bring down the Covid-19 cases in the area to zero and protect its communities from possible local transmission.

But the governor said the tight control measures being implemented down to the barangay level in the province will remain in effect due to the continuing threats posed by the spread of the disease.

He specifically cited the continuing arrival of returning locally stranded individuals and overseas Filipino workers, which compose all but one of the confirmed cases in the province.

“We should not relax and need to strictly follow the health protocols,” Solon said.

The governor assured that the local government will continue to assist its municipalities in addressing the problem and at the same time ensure that local economic activities will be sustained.

Solon said his office already endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the province’s proposed Annual Investment Program (AIP) for 2021, which will be the basis for the passage of their annual budget.

He added that the AIP is anchored on initiatives for the foreseen “recovery period” next year once a vaccine for Covid-19 is approved. (PNA)