South Cotabato province recorded on Saturday seven more confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, the highest in one day for the area.

Arjohn Gangoso, health education and promotion officer of the Department of Health (DOH)-Region 12, said in a situation report released on Saturday night that the new Covid-19 patients were all returning residents with travel history to Metro Manila.

He said they tested positive in confirmatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests processed by the Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center in Koronadal City.

DOH-12 records showed that five of the patients — a 38-year-old female, 27-year-old female, 51-year-old male, 30-year-old female and 30-year-old male — arrived in the province from Manila on July 8.

The two others, a 31-year-old and 34-year-old female, returned home on July 6 and 7, respectively.

“They are all in stable condition and under close observation by health workers,” the report said.

The South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said three of the patients were from Koronadal City, three from Banga town and one from Polomolok.

In its online Covid-19 surveillance report as of 6:30 p.m. Saturday (July 11), the province has now 32 confirmed cases and 16 recoveries.

Of the 16 active cases, it said five were from Koronadal City, three each from Banga and Tboli, two from Tampakan, and one each from Polomolok, Surallah and Norala.

At least 46 suspect Covid-19 patients are currently admitted at the South Cotabato provincial hospital and three other private hospitals in Koronadal City and Polomolok.

Since March, the IPHO said a total of 284 patients in the area were subjected to confirmatory RT-PCR testing, with 32 turning out positive and 249 were negative. (PNA)