NegOcc ‘high risk’ area

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The Department of Health-Western Visayas has classified Negros Occidental a “high risk” area for COVID-19 in Western Visayas.

As of April 19, Negros Occidental logged 2,277 active cases, 7,433 recoveries, and 244 deaths.

Image from Capitol PIO

The DOH 6 also categorized the highly-urbanized city of Bacolod as “moderate” in risk classification, with 665 active cases, as of April 19.

Dr. Mary Jane Roches Juanico of the DOH-6 Center for Health Development Infectious Disease Cluster, who was the guest at the Philippine Information Agency 6 and DOH-WV “Isyung Bakuna” forum, reported that the Covid-19 daily attack rate rose from 1.45 to 5.96 per 100,000 population in the past two weeks in the province.

The growth rate of COVID-19 cases also surged, from 89.64 percent to 261 percent in the past two weeks, Juanico added.

The daily attack rate of COVID-19 in Bacolod, meanwhile, slightly increased, from 2.01 to 2.18 per 100,000 population, and the growth rate reduced from 199.04 percent to 99 percent, she added.

Aside from Bacolod, other areas in Western Visayas in the “moderate” risk classification are Iloilo City, Antique, and Capiz.

The Inter-Agency Task Force earlier denied the request of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and the 31 mayors to place Negros Occidental under the General Community Quarantine status, despite the endorsement of the regional IATF because the situation in the province when the request was made early this month did not warrant a GCQ classification.

With the high risk classification, Lacson said, “I don’t know if that will change the minds of the IATF.”

Lacson said he also expects an influx of inbound travelers to Negros Occidental, after the travel moratorium to Western Visayas ended on April 19.

He asked returning residents to manifest their intention to avail of free swab testing upon arrival in the airport and seaports of the province. “If not, we will ask them to present a negative RT-PCR test results 72 hours prior to their arrival,” he added. – GB