By Tara Yap

ILOILO CITY – All the 29 persons under investigation (PUI) in Western Visayas have tested negative for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“As of today, the region is still free from COVID-19,” said Dr. Marlyn Convocar, Western Visayas regional director of the Department of Health (DOH).

Convocar told Manila Bulletin Friday that the results came back from DOH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Metro Manila.

Of the 29 PUIs, the most number were recorded in Aklan province with nine. This was largely due to several Chinese tourists who were earlier quarantine after entering the country via Kalibo Airport as they were supposed to go on vacation in Boracay Island.

Aklan is followed by Iloilo province with seven PUIs.

Three PUIs were recorded each in Negros Occidental province, Bacolod City and Iloilo City.

The provinces of Antique and Capiz had two PUIs each, but Convocar said that Capiz had three more PUIs who were admitted to hospitals.

“Swab samples from the three new PUIs in Capiz were taken and sent to RITM,” Convocar added.