- GILBERT BAYORAN
Wearing of face mask is still a must inside the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, despite its voluntary use both indoors and outdoors, based on an executive order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, Nov. 2, that he will issue an EO that will still require provincial government employees and those transacting business at the Capitol to wear face mask.
Asked if his EO will contradict the EO 7 issued by Marcos, Lacson replied “I think having the local autonomy as an LGU (local government unit), I think we can do that”.
The Department of Health has been consistent in urging the public to continue wearing face masks to protect them from getting COVID-19.
Under EO 7, however, it states that wearing of face masks is still mandatory in healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportations.
Lacson, who presided over the 3rd quarter Provincial Health Board meeting at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, noted that COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental are on the downtrend in the past three days, compared to previous weeks.
He also reported that the bed occupancy for COVID-19 patients at Cadiz District Hospital is increasing.
Negros Occidental logged 10 COVID-related deaths, with cases spiking from two digits to as high as 180 in October./GB
