COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental up within 2 weeks

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Within a period of two weeks, Negros Occidental logged more COVID-19 cases with seven deaths, according to the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT).

Records showed the cases rose from 140 on Nov. 1 to 290 as of Nov. 14.

Rayfrando Diaz, provincial inter-agency task force action officer, said the Cadiz District Hospital logged 79.78 percent occupancy rate for COVID cases, with 44 patients tested positive for the virus.

The hospital has recorded 27 suspected COVID-19 cases as of Nov. 12.

Most of the patients were unvaccinated, Diaz said.

He said he anticipated the increase in the cases during the holiday season due to a more relaxed health protocol.

Wearing of face masks outdoors and indoors is now optional, except in medical facilities.

Diaz said they are expecting more tourist arrivals in the province now that health protocols have been eased.

He made the statement after the Western Visayas tourism office reported that Boracay is the only tourist destination with most arrivals after the pandemic.

“The MassKara Festival, although it’s an event of Bacolod City, boosted our tourism in October. We hope to have a trickle effect in the coming months,” Diaz said.

He echoed the statement of Western Visayas tourism chief Cristine Mansinares, who said that while Boracay is the only tourist destination that reached the pre-pandemic levels of tourist arrivals in the region, Negros Occidental and the rest of region are on their way to recovery.

Diaz said flights between Bacolod and Manila are operating eight times a day, while Bacolod to Cebu flights are now twice daily.

Direct Bacolod to Davao flights also resumed this month, and flights between Bacolod and Clark may resume soon, he said.

All these things make it easier for travelers to come to Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, Diaz said.