Capitol braces for increase of Covid cases during holiday season
THE PROVINCIAL Government of Negros Occidenta is bracing for the projected increase in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the province amid the upcoming holiday season where more gatherings and travels are expected, an official said yesterday, November 14.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II said the cases are also expected to increase because of more relaxed health protocols that even the wearing of facemasks only depends on the choice of the public.
“We have to be ready for it,” he stressed, adding that “in Australia, they don’t wear facemasks anymore.”
Diaz with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and some department heads just arrived from a one week official trip in Darwin, Australia.
“There is no more wearing of facemasks indoor and outdoors in Australia,” he said.
Diaz also reported that despite the increase of cases of Covid-19, hospital utilization is still low in the province.
“Most of those confined at the hospitals are unvaccinated and admitted for some other ailments,” he said.
As of November 12 this year, 44 confirmed positive cases and 27 suspected cases were admitted at the Cadiz City District Hospital.
This translates to a 79.78 percent occupancy rate, which is the highest in the province. Other hospitals including Bacolod City are only having 20 percent occupancy, Diaz said. Meanwhile, more tourists are expected to come to the province soon with more relaxed travel protocols.
Diaz said this after the Department of Tourism n (DOT) in Western Visayas reported that Boracay Island in Aklan is the only tourism destination in the region with most tourist arrivals after the pandemic.
The Masskara Festival, although it’s an event in Bacolod City, has boosted the province’s tourism sector in October, he said.
“We hope to have a triple effect in the coming months,” Diaz said, adding that “our tourism campaign is ongoing including our local government units.”
The official also said that airline companies already have additional flights from the Bacolod-silay Airport to Manila and other destinations.*