The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development reported yesterday the detection of 31 local cases of Delta variant in the region.
Of the 31 cases, 19 were from Antique, two from Capiz, three from Iloilo City, and seven from Iloilo Province. None was detected in Bacolod City or any town and city in Negros Occidental.
Earlier, the Philippine College of Physicians- Negros Occidental Chapter urged residents Negros Occidental, including highly-urbanized Bacolod City, to get vaccinated as soon as possible with its neighboring provinces already experiencing another surge due to the COVID-19 Delta variant.
In an Aug. 5 advisory, the PCP-NOC, chaired by Dr. Ronel Sario, warned that the Delta variant is very contagious, easily transmissible and causes complicated COVID-19 infection.
Although the provincial government is preparing for the possibility of the Delta variant entering the province, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said they are not for it.
To help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 variant, the PCP-NOC advised the public to follow the APAT health protocols — air circulation and ventilation, physical distancing of one meter or more, always using a facemask and face shield, and time of interaction (if needed) of less than 15 minutes.
“This pandemic is still far from over. Let us be more watchful of our actions because this virus, knows no age, gender, nor status,” the PCP-NOC said in its advisory.
Cases in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have significantly dropped in the past few days. As of Aug. 5, Negros Occidental has 1,103 active cases from its peak of 2,400 in the past few weeks, while Bacolod City has 819 active cases. – GB
