The Department of Health (DOH-6) reported 628 news cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Western Visayas on Thursday, May 27.

This is the highest daily case count reported in the region since the pandemic started.

The new infections brought the total caseload in the region to 44,974, of which 37,450 have recovered, 1,101 have died and 6,407 are considered active.

Negros Occidental accounted for the most number of new cases at 138.

Bacolod City came in second with 117 COVID-19 cases, followed by Iloilo province, 116; Iloilo City, 96; Aklan, 70; Capiz, 63; Antique, 19; and Guimaras, 9.

Of the active cases in the region, 1,651 are from Negros Occidental, 1,252 from Iloilo City; 1,135 from Bacolod City; 1,041 from Iloilo province; 547 from Capiz; 392 from Aklan; 293 from Antique; and 94 from Guimaras.

During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, May 26, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said they are closely monitoring the situation in Western Visayas and other areas in the Visayas.

“Nagpapakita ang Visayas ng pagtaas kung saan Region 6 (Western Visayas) ang may pinakamabilis na pagtaas [in the number of COVID-19 cases] lalong lalo na po ang siyudad ng Iloilo,” he noted.IMT