Digicast Negros
April 8, 2021
by Carla P. Gomez

Negros Occidental hit an all time high of 317 COVID-19 cases in a single day, Thursday, April 8, Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, provincial consultant on economic affairs said.

It is very clear that there is a second wave of local transmissions in Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.

Lacson and Benitez are set to hold an emergency meeting with the mayors of Negros Occidental Friday, April 9, to address the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The 317 positive test results are from the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital molecular laboratory in Silay City, the number would be higher if the results from other laboratories in Bacolod on Thursday were included, Benitez said.

He said the 317 positive cases are the highest in Negros Occidental in a single day, the previous figure was only 100 plus in September last year.

On Wednesday, April 7, Negros Occidental also had 635 COVID-19 active cases.

The surge in cases should remind the public to be more vigilant and to avoid unnecessary travel, Benitez said.

Benitez said the surge could have been caused by the long Holy Week holiday when people mingled with family members.

The fact that the national government disallowed the provincial government from testing passengers on arrival in Negros Occidental is also a contributing factor, he said.

Of the 317 new cases, Kabankalan City had the highest at 55, followed by Cadiz City with – 52, Murcia – 44, San Carlos City – 24, Bago City – 21, Cauayan – 20, Himamaylan City – 19;

Ilog – 15, Binalbagan -14, La Carlota City – 12, San Enrique – 9, Pulupandan and Silay City – 4 each, Pontevedra and EB Magalona – 3 each, Sagay City, Talisay City Isabela and Manapla – 2 each, and Valladolid, Victorias and Hinoba-an – 1 each.

Also on the list were six cases from Bacolod City.

The Department of Health reported 104 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental and 39 in Bacolod City on Thursday.

However, Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said the DOH posting is delayed, the data from the TLJPH is based on real time.

In areas where COVID-19 cases are prevalent, he will suggest granular lockdowns, Lacson said.

It is hard to manage local transmissions but what is important is that the local government units (LGUs) are vigilant as far as contact tracing is concerned, Lacson said

Lacson said because of contract tracing they have been able to identify those who are COVID-19 positive.

The recent COVID-19 cases are very transmissible but have milder effects on those hit, the governor said.

Lacson said he is urging LGUs to close down their resorts and leisure areas until the COVID-19 numbers are under control.

The governor said he has not received any notice from the national Inter-Agency Task Force on his appeal to allow passengers to be swabbed for COVID-19 on entry into Negros Occidental and quarantined until their negative test results are out.

In the meantime travelers who signify in their S-PaSS that they are willing to be swabbed on arrival in Negros for free do not need to produce test results prior to travel, he said.*