TACLOBAN CITY-Deaths related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) here in the region have climbed to 435 following the four new deaths recorded on Sunday(August 15).
“With the high number of cases in Eastern Visayas, the Department of Health continues to appeal to the public to keep following and keep practicing the minimum public health standards all the time and in all settings,” the regional health department said.
The new fatalities were identified as a 45-year-old male from Ormoc City who died on August 12,; a 57-year-old female from MacArthur, Leyte who died on July 26; an 84-year-old female from Bobon, Northern Samar who died on July 16; and a 77-year-old male from Capul, Northern Samar who died on August 9..
On Monday(August 16), the region also logged 92  new COVID-19 cases and 125 new recoveries, bringing the region’s total number of cases at 38,513 with total recoveries at 36,862 and total active cases at 1,216.
The 92 new confirmed cases are from Tacloban City (16),  Leyte province (28), Southern Leyte (9), Eastern Samar (15), Northern Samar (4), Samar (19), and Biliran (1).
As this developed, the regional health department said they have intensified its vaccination drive.
As of August 13, a total of 397 vaccination sites were set up across Eastern Visayas.
(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY – Some 245,180 residents in Eastern Visayas have been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 15 as the region continues to receive more vaccine supplies from the national government.
The number forms part of the 731,110 doses administered to health workers, senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and essential workers in six provinces and seven cities in Eastern Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office here reported on Monday (August 16).
Some 485,930 doses or 90.87 percent of the 534,778 first doses allocated to the region have already been administered.
The DOH also reported that about 96.95 percent of the available doses have been distributed, equating to 906,576 out of 935,070 doses received. The region has 397 sites conducting Covid-19 vaccination.
“The government’s intensified vaccination drive is continually in action as the vaccine inoculation for the first three priority groups (health workers, elderlies, and those with comorbidities) is still ongoing, both for their first and second doses, respectively,” the DOH said in a statement sent to reporters.
“The public is reminded to coordinate with their LGUs (local government units) for vaccine registration and get vaccinated, following the government’s Prioritization Framework, in order to get maximum protection against the severe form of Covid-19,” it added.
All frontline health workers in the region have been vaccinated. For elderlies and with comorbidities, the vaccine rollout coverage is 36.11 percent and 56.12 percent, respectively.
About 14.17 percent of economic front-liners have also been inoculated.
The deliveries of vaccines in the region are expected to step up the government’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout, protecting more individuals from catching severe infections and/or deaths from coronavirus.
The health department reminds everyone, including those vaccinated to continue to adhere to public health measures such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks and face shields, hand and respiratory hygiene, and ensuring good ventilation by opening windows and doors where possible as vaccines do not replace the important prevention measures that are currently being practiced.
As of Aug. 16, Eastern Visayas has already recorded 38,513 confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 36,862 recoveries and 435 deaths. This brings the active cases to 1,216 or 3.16 percent of the total.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

When Police Lt.Col. Joy G. Leanza assumed as force commander of the 1st Eastern Samar PMFC on July 2021, he made certain that his Police Community Affairs programs will make an impact and that the presence of their unit will be felt by the community they sworn to serve.
With his PCAS Chief, who’s been with him in his previous assignments, they formulated a program specifically intended to help impoverished family in their areas of responsibility.
This endeavor was christened “Balay Mo, Aaydan Ko”. His unit’s PCAS Team who immersed in the community performing their daily tasks will identify marred shanty or hut whose occupant is indigent and has no financial capability to repair their abode.
PLt. Col. Leanza’s specific criteria is that the handicapped, the sick and the poor will qualify as recipients.
On July 12, 2021 while the 1st Eastern Samar PMFC personnel were passing along Brgy. Nato on their way to Taft, proper, their attention was caught by a small shack in an almost shattered state, its wall is made up of  torned woven sacks.
It was learned that the occupant was a 75 year-old widow, without any means of income and is living alone in the house. She narrated how she can’t almost bear and endure the cold especially when it rains.
Initially, the team gave her assorted grocery items and pledged that they will be back.
At 8:00 in the morning of July 16, 2021, the PCAS Team led by PLt.Angelyn Glou A. Cortado, admin and PCAS Chief upon instruction of PLt. Col. Leanza fulfilled their promise to Lola Esabel Morallos Catchin. They showed up carrying plywoods, lumbers, nails and paints.
After half a day, Lola Esabel has a newly repaired shelter. Her old wall made up of torned woven sacks was replaced with blue-painted plywood. She uttered her seemingly endless thanks to the cops as they leave and bound back to the camp.
((PLT CORTADO/PR)