By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - The local government units (LGUs) of Bacolod and Negros Occidental reported on Thursday five new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), infecting two repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and three locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
Based on the data from the Department of Health (DOH) - Western Visayas Center for Health and Development, the recent COVID-19 positive patient here was a 38-year-old male OFW. He was labelled as Patient No. 20, and currently isolated in a quarantine facility here.
The city now has a total of 20 COVID-19 cases, with three fatalities. Of the remaining number, 12 have recovered from the virus, one was still on home quarantine, and four in quarantine facilities.
Meanwhile, according to the provincial government, the three COVID-19 positive patients in the province were LSIs from the cities of Sagay and Talisay, and the town of Cauayan, while the other patient was an OFW from Sagay. The province now has a total of 17 COVID-19 cases, with seven recovered patients.
All four swab tests were processed at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital Molecular Laboratory in Silay City.
The three LSIs aged 29, 24, and 35 were repatriated from Cebu, and arrived here on June 5 and 6, while the 40-year-old male OFW came from Manila, and arrived here on June 7. All four of them are presently isolated in a quarantine facility.
Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares said that contact tracing procedures were being prioritized and proper safety and security protocols were being conducted.
Lizares requested the public to fully cooperate with the city to address the situation as soon as possible in order to minimize casualties and prevent the spread of virus.
He also reminded everyone, particularly the residents of Barangay Zone 4-A, where one of the COVID-19 patients was residing, to strictly observe the quarantine procedures, social distancing, wearing of facemask, and other health protocols mandated by the DOH and the local government officials.
For his part, Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III, in a statement, appealed to all Sagaynons to remain calm and continue to exercise cautiousness as they continue on with their lives and adapt to the new normal.