A 60-year-old woman from Tarangnan, Samar is the sixth confirmed carrier of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Eastern Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office here reported on Monday.

In virtual press briefing late Monday afternoon, DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon said the new confirmed case is a co-worker of the third and fourth Covid-19 patients at Tarangnan Community Hospital in Tarangnan, Samar.

The patient, known to have asthma, reported occasional coughing on April 11 and was tested for Covid-19 on April 16.

The health department rushed her to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in this city on Monday.

The health department released the test result on Monday, including those of 57 others from the region, which all turned out negative of the dreaded virus.

“New confirmed case of Covid-19 means the virus is still here, the risk of having the virus is higher especially when you are outside. Please help us to cut the transmission by staying at home and continue practice proper hygiene,” Molon said.

Of the six Covid-19 patients in Eastern Visayas, four of them have already recovered – the first case from Catarman, Northern Samar; the second case from Calbayog City, Samar; and the two patients from Tarangnan, Samar, who were released from confinement on Monday.

The three cases in Tarangan town are considered as local transmission since they all had close contacts with the patient from Calbayog City.

The region’s fifth case from Burauen, Leyte is still admitted at the EVRMC. She was found positive of the virus on Friday.

Meanwhile, five of the six samples taken from suspected carriers who had close contact with the patient from Burauen turned negative of the disease, according to DOH. They are still waiting for the result of another person’s test.

At least 32 persons from Burauen and nearby towns have been identified as close contacts of the patient. (PNA)