CORTES, Bohol, July 24 (PIA) -- There has been no COVID-related deaths in eight of Bohol’s 47 towns and one city one year and four months after the province's inbound travel ban in May 2020.

Based on the data from the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) as of July 23, no COVID-related deaths have been reported in the following towns: Anda, Antequera, Batuan, Clarin, Corella, Dagohoy, President Carlos P. Garcia, and Sikatuna. 

The said towns may have death cases of suspected COVID-19 affectation, but local health authorities and emergency response teams who validate the deaths have confirmed that these are not related to COVID-19 based on their negative swab test results. 

Department of Health Memorandum No. 2020-0158 on the proper handling of the remains of the suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases states that burial and cremation of these remains should be done within 12 hours after death, in accordance with the person’s religion and culturally-acceptable norms to the most possible extent.

Suspect and probable COVID-19 cases who died pending test results are handled similar to a confirmed COVID-19 case, or a burial within 12 hours from death is observed.

On the other hand, Tagbilaran City tops Bohol’s localities with the most number of deaths at 27 on July 23, followed by Guindulman with nine cases and Ubay and Tubigon with eight deaths each.

Candijay is next with seven registered deaths, followed by Inabanga and Maribojoc with 6 COVID-19 fatalities each. 

On the other hand, Alicia, Dauis, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Loon and Talibon registered five cases each, while Calape, Duero, Lila, Loay, have four cases of COVID deaths, and Baclayon, Carmen, Panglao, Sierra Bullones, Trinidad had three deaths each.

The towns of Alburquerque, Balilihan, Buenavista, Cortes, Getafe, Pilar, Sagbayan, San Miguel, and Sevilla recorded two cases  of COVID-19 deaths  in the last 16 months. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)