Forty-nine percent of Caraga Region’s total coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases involve local transmissions, or 674 of the total 1,382 cases since the pandemic began in March, the Department of Health said Thursday.

In a case bulletin released Wednesday evening, DOH-13 said the total number of infections among locally stranded individuals (LSIs) have risen to 301 (22%), followed by returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) at 63 (5%), healthcare workers at 202 (15%), and front-liners at 60 (4%).

DOH-13 also reported 65 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday evening, as well as three deaths.

The new cases brought the region’s active infections to 485, with 850 recoveries and 47 recorded deaths.

In a press briefing Thursday morning (Oct. 1), DOH-13 officials said the new cases were recorded in Butuan City, Bislig City, Tandag City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur.

“Sixty-two of the new cases are classified as local transmissions,” the agency said, adding that 33 of the local transmissions are considered new, 18 are close contacts with previous cases, five involved health care workers and six front-liners.

Work suspension

Meanwhile, office work at the Agusan del Norte provincial Capitol has been suspended for two days starting Oct. 1 to give way to a massive disinfection, officials said.

Gov. Dale B. Corvera said the regular work of all employees of the provincial government of Agusan del Norte will resume on Monday (Oct. 5).

Corvera ordered the temporary work suspension due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases involving Capitol employees.

A total lockdown was also ordered beginning Sept. 30 to October 2 on the premises of the Nasipit municipal hall, also in Agusan del Norte, for disinfection purposes.

“Due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in our municipality, some of our employees tested positive in the recent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) conducted,” said Mayor Enrico R. Corvera in a directive issued Wednesday. (PNA)