By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The number of persons under monitoring for the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, in Negros Occidental continues to increase. Based on the latest report from the Provincial Public Information Office, as of March 15, the number jumped from the 12,768 recorded in their previous report to 13,673.
Negros Occidental Covid-19 Incident Command Center spokesperson Charina Magallanes Tan said 3,166 have been cleared while another 105 developed symptoms.
With regard to patients under investigation, the provincial official said there are currently six confined at the hospital while two died while awaiting laboratory confirmation on their Covid-19 status. In addition, she said 34 have been discharged with another 29 cleared.
In terms of swab testing, Tan said they have received nine negative results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, with another three pending; while 15 additional tests are currently being reviewed in Iloilo.
Meanwhile, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas yesterday clarified the province continues to welcome donations of food and other forms of assistance.
He also discussed the memorandum he issued on March 23 prohibiting the solicitation of personal protective equipment, facemasks, and other medical equipment from private entities, explaining it was an internal memo intended only for medical personnel operating in the province after learning employees were soliciting for such items, which is prohibited since they are being supplied by the Department of Health.
Nellas explained, they want to curb such activity./DGB, WDJ