Motivated by recent developments in the COVID-19 situation and incremental movements towards the new normal in Eastern Visayas, the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College, through its Regional Environmental Information Systems program and Health Services Unit, has endeavored to visualize key COVID-19 data in the region.
This album is a collection of maps based on data from the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas Center for Health and Development. The presentation, which highlights spatial relationships between data, provides a different perspective on the public health crisis faced by the region. It also underscores the importance of protocols for mitigating the spread of the virus. It is hoped that these maps will serve as valuable input to the policymaking process of local government units and decision-making by individual members of society.
Disclaimer: The figures reported here do NOT represent final numbers and are subject to change after the inclusion of delayed reports and review of cases.
As of May 22, 2020, there were 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported. Tarangnan, Samar had the biggest number, followed by the municipality of Buruean with two confirmed COVID-19 cases. Three other cities and municipalities were also reported to have confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As of June 2, 2020, 43 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas have been reported, with Tarangnan, Samar having the biggest number of confirmed cases. Burauen comes in second with three confirmed COVID-19 cases, followed by Tanauan with two confirmed cases. Seven other cities and municipalities have also been reported to have one confirmed COVID-19 case each. The increase in the number of cases may be attributed to the influx of citizens returning from Manila and overseas.
As of May 29, 2020, there were 3,382 cumulative suspected COVID-19 cases in Eastern Visayas, majority of which have already recovered and are currently asymptomatic. The map shows that Tarangnan, Samar has the highest cumulative suspected cases in Eastern Visayas.
As of May 29, 2020, 3,384 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Region VIII. Of these, 1443 PCR tests were done in Tarangnan, Samar.
There are 86 hospitals in the entire Eastern Visayas—77 Level 1 and infirmary level, seven Level 2, and two Level 3. Levels 2 and 3 facilities are located in cities while Level 1 and infirmary level facilities are spread out across all six provinces of Region VIII.
In terms of individual facility bed capacity, the facility with the biggest capacity is in Tacloban City with 73 allocated beds, followed by the facility in Naval, Biliran with 30 beds. There are hospitals with no allocated beds for COVID-19 patients: six in Northern Samar, four in Eastern Samar, five in Leyte and one in Southern Leyte.
As of May 22, 2020, there are 294 Level 1 or infirmary level beds, 38 Level 2 beds, and 76 Level 3 beds allocated for COVID-19 patients in Eastern Visayas. Tacloban City has the highest cumulative bed capacity with 90 allocated beds, followed by Ormoc City with 58, Naval in Biliran with 30, and Calbayog City with 25 beds. Facilities in other cities and municipalities have less than 20 cumulative bed capacities. There are three areas with no cumulative bed capacity—Laoang, Northern Samar; Capul, Northern Samar; and Matalom, Leyte.
As of May 22, 2020, the majority of the COVID-19 referral hospitals in Eastern Visayas have 0-25% occupancy rate of the allocated beds for COVID-19 patients. The facility with the highest occupancy rate is in Maasin City at 217%.
(This was originally posted on the UP System website on June 16, 2020)