BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
A Bacolod bank has temporarily closed after one of its tellers tested positive for COVID-19, City Administrator Em Ang confirmed last night.
The teller and his mother, who had COVID symptoms, are hospitalized, Ang said.
The co-workers of the teller will be swabbed for COVID-19 testing today, Ang said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health reported that there were no new COVID-19 positive cases in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City yesterday.
There were instead eight new COVID-19 positive patients who have recovered, it said.
Of those who recovered, four are from Bacolod City, two from Cadiz City, and one each from Toboso and Silay City, the DOH said.
Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares also said the 4-year-old boy from Purok Pasto, Brgy. Zone-12A, in his city who earlier tested positive for COVID-19 has already tested negative.
His mother and brother, who were brought to the quarantine facility, are also negative for COVID-19, Lizares said.
The results of the tests conducted on four relatives of the boy also came out negative. They were transported back to their home for a strict and monitored 14-day home quarantine, he said.
Lizares added that three persons who were close contacts of two Talisay bikers who were reported by the DOH to be COVID-19 positive on Sunday were bought to the E.B. Magalona Healing Center to undergo their 14-day quarantine.
All three are asymptomatic, he said.
ABC-CBN Bacolod quoted Dr. Mako Salvador, president of the Philippine College of Physicians-Negros Occidental chapter, as saying that due to COVID-19 local transmissions, which include medical practitioners and frontliners, his group is recommending the return of Bacolod and the province to Enhanced Community Quarantine or General Community Quarantine.
However, if this is not possible, residents should practice self-discipline and should not leave their homes unless it is important, he was quoted as saying.
Bacolod businessmen, however, have said that the city’s economy cannot survive another ECQ.*
