Negros Occidental COVID-19 cases surging

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The province of Negros Occidental and its capital city Bacolod have been listed under “critical” risk classification due to rising COVID cases.

Based on the new classification issued by Malacañang, Negros Occidental and Bacolod are under Alert Level 3 starting Feb. 1 to 15.

The health department in Western Visayas logged an increase in the health care utilization rate in Negros Occidental and Bacolod to 62.26 percent and 56.35 percent, respectively.

Bacolod’s average daily attack rate (ADAR) also climbed from 8.12 to 27.14 per 100,000 population in the past two weeks.

The ADAR of Negros Occidental also increased to 8.04 from 2.48 in the same period.

Magalong catches COVID anew

Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong tested positive for COVID for the second time.

Magalong first contracted the virus in April last year.

He said his symptoms, which started to manifest on Jan. 29, were mild.

“My swab test result came out last night. I am positive for COVID. My symptoms appeared Saturday evening. I will be on home isolation until Saturday,” he said.