BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government is not closing the province’s borders as well as non-essential businesses despite the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections.
The Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases – Western Visayas chapter suggested the closure but Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the proposal’s adverse effects on the local economy must be considered, too.
In a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the medical group recommended the province’s closure to non-essential travelers, including returning overseas Filipino workers, for a period of two weeks.
Dine-in restaurants as well as non-essential businesses should also be closed temporarily and social gatherings banned, they added.
But Lacson pointed out that he requested for a stricter quarantine category in April when COVID-19 cases spiked but the National Inter-Agency Task Force turned it down.
Other proposals presented by the medical group included addressing the province’s homeless and street children to further boost prevention efforts on localized COVID-19 transmissions, and prevent minors from going out of their homes.
Earlier, Lacson agreed to retain the province’s modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status following a meeting with officials from the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) in Western Visayas, although stricter restrictions will be imposed.
Noting that active COVID-19 cases in the province are now on the decline – with the Department of Health (DOH) tagging the province as “low risk” – Lacson pointed out social gatherings would be allowed only at 30 percent of the venue’s maximum capacity.
Lacson also admitted that despite the decreasing trend, there are still times infections may suddenly spike just like the other local government units in the region.
On the other hand, the governor also reported that vaccine interest in the province is steadily growing, although some people remain hesitant, such as senior citizens.
After learning that the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble already started vaccinating frontline economic workers or the A4 category, Lacson said he is seeking advice if Negros Occidental could also do the same.
He also pointed out that the quick distribution of vaccines would depend on the supply given out by the national government.
Earlier on Monday, Negros Occidental received a shipment of 16,800 CoronaVac jabs manufactured by Sinovac, a Chinese biotech company.
Negros Occidental is currently still inoculating those under the A1 (frontline health workers), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) categories./PN
