BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Covid-19 risk classification of Negros Occidental has been downgraded from “high to low risk” by the Department of Health Center for Health and Development in Western Visayas, as of April 25.
But the highly-urbanized city of Bacolod has been classified as “high risk” area for Covid-19, due to the average daily attack at 7.12 percent per 100,000 population, compared to the moderate and low classifications of six other provinces and the highly-urbanized city of Iloilo, from April 13 to 26, a report of Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te showed.
The DOH-CHD 6 records show that Negros Occidental had 3.43 percent Covid-19 daily attack rate in the same period.
The Provincial Incident Management Team also reported that Covid active cases in Negros Occidental further dropped, from its peak of 2,233 cases on April 20, to 1,863, as of yesterday.
Te said during the “Isyung Bakuna” online forum with the DOH Western Visayas and Philippine Information Agency 6, that the growth of Covid cases was at 15 percent in Bacolod City, compared to negative 33 percent in Negros Occidental, for the same period.
The utilization rate of Covid wards and isolation beds in Negros Occidental was 34.4 percent, and 41 percent in Bacolod City.
All over Western Visayas, Te said that they recorded 262 average Covid-19 cases per day. Out of 34,094 cases as of April 25, she said that 28,323 were local transmissions, or an equivalent of 88 percent.
LOCKDOWN
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, meanwhile, said yesterday that his office will be temporarily closed effective today, for disinfection, after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.
Diaz said all staff members were isolated and are set to undergo swab testing on May 1.
He added that he has no direct contact with the infected employee.
49 HOUSES SEALED OFF
Hinobaan Councilor Jason Tembrevilla Tupas said 49 houses, occupied by 195 individuals, in Zone 1, Brgy. Bacuyangan, in the town, were sealed off pending contract tracing efforts.
Tupas said the Hinobaan municipal government will extend assistance for 14 days to the affected families.
A job order casual employee of the Hinobaan municipal government also recently died of Covid-19. Mayor Ernesto Estrao issued an order prohibiting tourists from entering the town, including the relatives of residents from other areas of Negros Island.*
