BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospital bed occupancy and positivity rate are steadily dropping, according to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, citing a report from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT).
Diaz said some towns and cities are now recording a reduction in active COVID cases, although he affirmed that some areas like Kabankalan City are recording a slight increase in coronavirus infections.
“We’re managing,” said Diaz. “Our schedule of vaccinations is already in place and they [local government units] have to respect and implement their schedules.”
On the other hand, with the threat of new COVID variants, Diaz said they are considering using their procured AstraZeneca vaccines as a “booster shot” for provincial healthcare workers who have already completed their jabs using the China-made CoronaVac (Sinovac) vaccine.
Earlier, the provincial government received 2,900 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines – part of the 100,000 doses they ordered earlier this year.
The British-Swedish shots are currently being used to inoculate those belonging to the A4 category or frontline economic workers.
The doses, however, were still meager, said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, pointing out they were led to believe that the AstraZeneca vaccines would arrive first in the country.
As of July 21, the PIMT reported 1,613 active COVID-19 cases in the province.
Data also showed that the areas of Candoni, Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra, and Toboso had around 0 to 10 active COVID-19 cases.
Areas previously identified as hotspots such as San Carlos City has also seen a drastic drop in COVID-19 cases from around 200 cases earlier this year to the recent 11 to 30 active cases./PN
