Iloilo and six other provinces in the country have been flagged by independent research group OCTA as areas of concern due to the spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases within their vicinities over the past week.

According to OCTA, these provinces recorded the highest increase in COVID-19 infections during the May 24-30 period.

Iloilo logged 743 cases of COVID-19 or a daily average of 161 cases from May 24 to May 30, data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed.

The province, which is currently under the least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), has 1,432 active cases.

The town of Oton accounted for the highest number of active cases in Iloilo at 136.

Pavia came in second with 113 active cases, followed by Passi City, 77; Santa Barbara, 75; Maasin, 67; Miagao, 64; Cabatuan, 63; Guimbal, 61; Sara, 53; and Barotac Nuevo, 51.

From March 2020 (start of the pandemic) to June 1 this eyar, the province registered a total of 7,940 confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 6,318 have recovered and 190 have died.

Other areas of concern are Isabela, Cagayan, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, and Camarines Sur.IMT