BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Three provincial government-run quarantine facilities in Negros Occidental were free of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, as of yesterday. These were in the cities of Silay and Cadiz and E.B. Magalona town.
According to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, this was due to the continued drop in coronavirus cases.
A few authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) who arrived recently voluntarily quarantined themselves in the so-called “healing centers”.
At the Cadiz City District Hospital – the only COVID-19 hospital in the province – Diaz noted lesser COVID patients at 13 while seven were waiting for their reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results.
“It’s looking good for everyone. I hope nga mag-continue ang pag-maintain sang health protocols,” Diaz added.
As of Dec. 12, the province had 296 active COVID-19 cases, 32,783 recoveries and 1,715 deaths.
The province will also ramp up its vaccination campaign.
“We are ready for the logistical requirements of the local government units (LGUs). When it comes to vaccinators we are ready to deploy and respond,” Diaz said.
Diaz admitted that Negros Occidental is still way off its target number of vaccinees.
The province’s vaccination rate is at 50 percent, he said, adding that the cooperation of LGUs is needed to reach herd immunity at the soonest time possible.
Negros Occidental topped in Western Visayas during the national vaccination days (Nov. 29 to Dec. 1) with 213,291 persons vaccinated, data from the Regional Vaccination Center of the Department of Health in Region 6 showed.
The province exceeded its target of 150,000./PN
