ILOILO City – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) is keeping Negros Occidental and Antique under coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Alert Level 2 together with 24 other areas in the country.
Such alert level is from April 15 to 30, 2023.
The two Western Visayas provinces have low vaccination rates, according to the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday afternoon.
While these areas have reached low risk classification for case and utilization rates, these have vaccination rates lower than 70 percent of the target total population and/or 70 percent of the total senior citizens.
If they meet the targets, they will be deescalated to Alert Level 1.
DOH further encouraged the unvaccinated, unboosted, or under-boosted to have the COVID jabs “as soon as possible while it is still free of charge, especially for senior citizens.”
DOH added, under Alert Level 2, Negros Occidental, Antique and 24 other areas are mandated to implement restrictions such as a 50 percent capacity in establishments indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70 percent capacity outdoors.
Other areas under Alert Level 2 are Benguet, Ifugao, Quezon Province, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Masbate, Bohol, Cebu Province, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Western Samar, Lanao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
This alert level classification was contained on Resolution No. 6-C-2023 signed by DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire and Interior and Local Government secretary Benhur Abalos on April 14, 2023.
However, five towns in Antique, 15 areas in Negros Occidental and the rest of Region 6 are placed under Alert Level 1.
For Antique, Alert Level 1 areas are Anini-y, Barbaza, San Jose, Sebaste, and Tobias Fornier (Dao), while for Negros Occidental are Cadiz City, Candoni, City of Himamaylan, City of Talisay, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona , Ilog, La Carlota City, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, San Enrique, Silay City, and Valladolid.
In areas under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel with no restrictions based on age and co-morbidities are permitted.
Earlier, the DOH regional office 6 underscored the need to sustain the preventive and control measures against COVID-19.
DOH-6 regional director Dr. Adriano Suba-an specially encouraged anew all eligible individuals who have yet to avail of their COVID-19 booster doses to do so in their local health units.
“COVID-19 vaccination and booster doses continue to be safe and effective against the COVID-19 disease. It provides the best long-term protection against the virus and its complications especially among senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals,” Suba-an noted.
Based on data from DOH-6 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), more than 5.3 million out of 5.6 million target or 94 percent of the total population have been fully vaccinated in the region.
However, data shows that the booster dose coverage remains low at 17.53 percent for first booster and 1.92 percent for second booster.
Second booster doses are given to health care workers, senior citizens, individuals with co-morbidities, and other vulnerable groups.
Aside from vaccination, the regional director also still encouraged the wearing of face masks when in crowded and closed spaces or gatherings to mitigate transmission not only of COVID-19 but also of other respiratory diseases.
Those who are manifesting symptoms, they are advised to best to isolate and refrain from interacting with others and to seek consult to the nearest health facility for proper medical attention.
It is also best to remind others to keep rooms well ventilated, avoid crowded areas, frequently wash or sanitize hands, and protect oneself by getting vaccinated.
As of April 22, Western Visayas still has 1,413 active COVID-19 cases. Iloilo province has the highest active cases with 886, followed by Negros Occidental with 295, Iloilo City (112), Bacolod City (66), Aklan (37), Guimaras (eight), Antique (seven), and Capiz (two).
The total active cases in region 6 include the 20 news cases logged on Saturday which are from Iloilo City 9, Negros Occidental four, Bacolod CIty and Iloilo province with three each, and Guimaras one./PN
