BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The number of active cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Negros Occidental is now down to just 27, data from the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) showed.
The province recorded no new cases and posted nine new recoveries, according to the PIMT during Tuesday’s COVID-19 update. There was also one death.
It also identified 13 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental which reported zero cases over the past few days.
These were the cities of Escalante, Himamaylan, Sagay and Sipalay, and the towns of Binalbagan, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, Ilog, Isabela, San Enrique, Toboso, and Valladolid.
Total COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental since March 2020 have now reached 41,364 with 39,371 recoveries, and 1,965 deaths.
Earlier, the provincial government reported having already fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 1.2 million Negrenses – this is 60.46 percent of the target population.
Negros Occidental is under COVID-19 Alert Level 2. However, the following have been classified as under Alert Level 1 due to low cases: the towns of E.B Magalona (Saravia), Pulupandan and San Enrique and the component cities of La Carlota and Sagay.
Bacolod City is also under Alert Level 1.
Early this week, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the provincial government would recommend additional towns and cities to be placed under Alert Level 1 for faring well in their COVID-19 vaccination drive. These were the following:
* Cadiz City (77.85 percent vaccination rate)
* Talisay City and Murcia (73 percent vaccination rate each)
* Pontevedra, Victorias City and Silay City (72 percent vaccination rate each)
* Candoni (70 percent vaccination rate)
Alert Level 1 or the “new normal” status is the lowest category in the country’s COVID-19 alert level system. The movement of persons, regardless of age and comorbidities, is allowed, but with restrictions on crowded and closed spaces and close contact settings.
Also, private establishments and government agencies are allowed to operate at full onsite capacity, subject to minimum public health standards./PN
