BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
With no new index cases for the last two weeks, 47 of the 61 barangays of Bacolod will be considered free from coronavirus disease 2019 by the city Emergency Operations Center effective today.
As of yesterday, barangays 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, Alangilan, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Montevista, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, and Vista Alegre recorded zero Covid-19 cases, Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical of EOC, said.
Barangays 6, 5, 20, 28, 30, Banago and Sum-ag will also have zero active cases because the remaining patients from these places are expected to finish their 14-day quarantine today, Sorongon said.
LESS CASES
EOC records showed that Bacolod recorded no casualty from Covid-19 for four consecutive weeks while active cases in the city continue to decrease.
On Saturday, Bacolod had no new cases recorded, based on the monitoring of the Department of Health Region 6.
However, Sorongon reminded the public to continue observing the minimum health protocols to maintain the low number of Covid cases.
To help spread awareness about Covid, the city should have infographics tarpaulins placed in strategic areas of Bacolod although a resolution from the Sangguniang Panlungsod is necessary to do that, Sorongon said.
VILLAMONTE AND ESTEFANIA
The DOH, in its week 49-50 monitoring, listed Villamonte and Estefania in Bacolod as among the top 11 barangays in Western Visayas with high Covid-19 morbidity rates.
The list also included Brgy. Rizal in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, while the rest of the barangays are from Panay Island.
Sorongon explained that although Villamonte and Estefania were included in the list, most of the cases in these areas are controlled since the patients are under quarantine.
He said the patients are either close contacts of other patients, probables or those exhibiting symptoms, pregnant women, those who are undergoing dialysis, and other individuals with comorbidities.
BARANGAY HEADS CITED
Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia attributed the continued reduction in the number of Covid cases to the people and barangay officials, who are helping in the implementation of minimum health protocols.
Leonardia said it is, indeed, good news that the number of cases in Bacolod is getting fewer but this does not call for a celebration yet since the virus is still lurking around, hence, everyone should remain vigilant.
Leonardia has already issued an executive order banning house-to-house singing of Christmas carols to solicit money and also encouraged gatherings to be limited to family members only, as part of precautionary measures against the possible spike of cases during the holidays. He also earlier discouraged gift-giving activities unless the presents are not perishable and could be opened 3 to 5 days after receipt to ensure that any coronavirus present is gone.*
