By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson remains undecided whether or not to reimpose the province’s health protocols for arriving individuals due to the growing threat of the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19.
In a phone patch interview yesterday morning, Lacson said so far with the province’s main entry point for air travelers at the Bacolod-Silay Airport, the current health requirements such as travelers using the S-PaSS system and travelers opting either presenting a negative RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to travel, or getting the RT-PCR test upon arrival at the airport, still remain.
The only exception for the RT-PCR test is for fully vaccinated individuals who are only required to use the S-PaSS system in order to present their vaccination card.
As for those coming from Panay island, travelers originating from areas placed under enhanced community quarantine are required to undergo RT-PCR test upon entry at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City.
Lacson also affirmed that several airline companies, especially flag-carrier Philippine Airlines, have forwarded a proposal to increase passenger flights after the province allowed entry for fully vaccinated individuals.
However, with the threat of the Delta variant, Lacson said they now have to be more cautious as they currently do not know how widespread the problem of the variant’s localized transmission.
“Most likely, we are not in a rush to add more flights,” Lacson said.
Earlier, the governor said he wants to know the current situation in Panay island, especially in the province of Antique, with regards to the threat of the Delta variant.
Last week, the Philippine Genome Center and Department of Health (DOH) released its findings confirming that two residents of Antique have tested positive for the Delta variant in the month of May, with one eventually passing away, while another recovered.
Lacson had already admitted that the province’s health care system might collapse in the event that the Delta variant spreads out of control in the province.
Based on the latest bulletin issued by the DOH, three people in the country have already died from the Delta variant. One each from Antique and Manila and the other one is a Filipino crew member of the cargo vessel M/V Athens Bridge.
At present, the DOH logged eight active Delta COVID-19 cases in the country./DGB, WDJ