Negros Occidental, Bacolod remain at Alert 4

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Negros Occidental and this city remain under Alert Level 4 as the growth rate of COVID-19 cases continues to increase.

Records of the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (CHD) show that the two-week growth rate of infections in Negros Occidental was at 76 percent while the average daily attack rate (ADAR) per 100,000 population was at 8.26 percent.

This city has a two-week growth rate of 45 percent and ADAR of 19.89 percent, Bea Camille Natalaray of the DOH regional CHD office said.

Natalaray said the two areas have high utilization rates for COVID-19 facilities and isolation centers.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negros Occidental has over 4,000 active cases.

“While we continue with our contact tracing and expanding our bed capacity and treatment, the Delta variant has really come in very strong,” Lacson said.

Provincial health officer Ernell Tumimbang and his son, who also works at the PHO, were among those who recently contracted the virus.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said a 45-year-old commissioned officer in Mimaropa died of COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the PNP to 117.

The PNP health service said the patient tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted in a hospital on Sept. 22.

In Tacurong City, Councilor Maximo Casador died of COVID on Monday.

Rizal mental health facility on lockdown

In Rizal, a mental health facility in Antipolo City was placed under a two-week lockdown after a confirmed case was reported.

Mayor Andrea Ynares said 10 of the 31 employees of Villa Herzon Mental Health Center in Barangay San Roque manifested COVID-19 symptoms such as cough, cold, sore throat and body pain.

The employees and their close contacts have undergone swab testing.

“No visitors would be allowed in the meantime, and staff and patients would not be allowed outdoors unless urgently needing medical attention,” Ynares said.

Antipolo recorded 118 active cases as of Monday. – John Unson, Neil Jayson Servallos