By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas has tagged the province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City as low-risk areas for COVID-19.

In a virtual presser hosted by the DOH on Monday afternoon, they reported that the average daily attack rate in Bacolod City per 100,000 population has dropped to 6.93 percent for the second half of July.

The attack rate has dropped by half compared to the first half of July which saw a 13.92 percent average daily attack rate.

Negros Occidental also remained low-risk with a 2.11 percent daily attack rate for the second week of July, compared to 3.43 percent in the first half of the same month.

For Western Visayas, Aklan is tagged as high-risk, while Antique and Iloilo City are tagged as moderate-risk.

Also tagged as low-risk are the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Guimaras.

At present, Negros Occidental is currently under a general community quarantine (GCQ) until August 31, while Bacolod City is under GCQ with heightened restrictions until August 15./DGB, WDJ