By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The results of  the Covid-19 mass testing conducted in Bacolod City and four localities in Negros Occidental from August 28 to 31’s “Timeout Weekend” have yet to be released, Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said on Wednesday.

“We expect it may come out this week,” Tumimbang said.

He revealed that of the total 6,270 swab specimens collected in all five local government units, not a single result has been released yet because of the backlog at the molecular laboratories of the specimens of returning Filipino workers and locally stranded individuals.

The first to be sent to a laboratory in Cebu City were  swab specimens from Bacolod City with a total of 1,620 which were collected during the August 27 to 28 mass testing while the rest from Bacolod City and the four other LGUs of the province which were collected from August 29 to 31 were sent to Cebu on Tuesday, Tumimbang revealed.

Only the 431 swab specimens from Silay City have been submitted for testing to the Philippine Red Cross Molecular Lab in Bacolod City, he said.

During the mass testing from August 30 to 31, there were 725 swab specimens gathered from Talisay City; 310 – Bago City and 420 – Murcia while there were a total of 4,384 from Bacolod City.

Meanwhile, Tumimbang revealed that the Provincial Health Office is launching the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Helpline for Negrenses amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the counseling is free to address some negative effects of Covid-19 pandemic to some individuals like stress, anxiety, depression which sometimes lead to suicide.

“This service is free and would be dealt with secrecy and privacy,” Tumimbang assured.

“Feeling anxious or worried? Contact the following numbers for help thru Smart: 09615729197 and TM: 09659821851,” Tumimbang added./DGB, WDJ