At least 222 or 42 percent of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in Eastern Visayas have already recovered, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Wednesday.

In a virtual press briefing, DOH Eastern Visayas chief Minerva Molon, said these include 134 locally stranded individuals (LSI), 55 from the region’s local cases, 30 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and three Balik Probinsya Balik Pag-asa (BP2) program beneficiaries.

“Most cases in the region are confined in local isolation facilities for treatment but patients are transferred to a higher health care facility if further management is needed,” she added.

The DOH said confirmed cases in the region have significantly increased since the start of June due to the testing of returning residents.

Of the region’s 532 total Covid-19 cases, 324 are LSIs, 157 are local cases, 48 are OFWs, and three are BP2 beneficiaries.

She said 489 of the total cases are asymptomatic, 37 have mild symptoms, and six severe cases, including the region’s first three deaths.

The patients who died of Covid-19 complications were an 80-year-old woman from Tarangnan, Samar, a 65-year-old man from Biliran, Biliran, and a 47-year-old man from Kananga, Leyte.

“We are taking steps to end this crisis here. Local officials can do mitigation approaches like community restrictions and isolation of people with symptoms, especially those who have exposure to positive cases,” Molon said.

Due to the sudden spike of confirmed cases in the region, several local governments have decided to temporarily stop accepting returning residents to decongest its quarantine centers and focus its efforts on containing the spread of the virus.

On June 26, the Department of the Interior and Local Government officially suspended the travel of LSIs to the region until July 9, upon approval of the national task force against Covid-19. (PNA)