By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is set to meet with health officials and members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) today to discuss necessary actions to prevent the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) from entering the province. In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod over the weekend, Lacson said they have yet to create a formal task force against the ongoing threat but he was informed by Provincial Health officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, that they are ready and are monitoring the situation.
The governor urged the public not to place too much reliance on the government or health workers and affirmed they have an obligation to the community to follow advice from health officials, along with immediately notifying their respective barangay or health officials if they know someone who recently travelled to China.
Lacson also appealed for the public to stop spreading “fake news” regarding the virus on social media in order to prevent a panic.
Last week, Tumimbang said they have stepped up surveillance monitoring at the province’s points of entry, along with the border between the Negros provinces. He also assured there are no confirmed nCoV cases in the province nor are there patients being monitored.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, meanwhile, offered to assist the Provincial Health Office with border monitoring against the virus.
As of yesterday, the Department of Health reported two confirmed nCoV cases in the country, with one fatality./DGB, WDJ