Wednesday, April 15, 2020
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Will the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Negros Occidental to prevent the spread of COVID-19 set until April 30 be shortened or modified?

Former Rep. Alfredo Benitez, in a live broadcast by the Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) on Facebook yesterday afternoon, said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is set to meet with the mayors of the province today to discuss the status of the ECQ.

The live broadcast aired on the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental Facebook page to provide COVID-19 updates will be held 3 p.m. daily by the PIMT that operates 24/7 at its command center at the Negrese Residences in Bacolod City, even on holidays, Benitez said.

Benitez told the DAILY STAR that the continued trend of no new COVID-19 cases in the province may lead them to decide to modify or shorten the ECQ.

A decision on the matter may be made today, he said.

However, even if the ECQ ends earlier, sea and air travel to the province will still be banned to prevent the entry of possible COVID-19 carriers, he added.

There were no new COVID-19 positive cases in Western Visayas yesterday, and the number of persons under investigation and monitoring for the virus in Negros Occidental continued to drop.

The Department of Health said the number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Western Visayas remained at 40, with one in Negros Occidental and seven in Bacolod City.

In Negros Occidental, the PUIs dropped from 22 on Monday to 20 yesterday, while the PUMs decreased from 536 to 453, Dr. Jessica Fama, assistant provincial health officer, said.

The live broadcast hosted by Board Member Ryan Gamboa was joined by Benitez, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Provincial Incident Management Team commander Jonathan Lobaton, Provincial Disaster Management Program chief Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian, Provincial Social Welfare officer Merle Garcia, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, and Fama.*