By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP)-Negros Occidental Chapter is appealing for Negrenses’ cooperation as the number of COVID-19 cases in the province and its capital Bacolod City continues to rise.

In an advisory issued by the doctors group over the weekend, they said both the province and the city are now experiencing a severe increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

The group said they counted at least 10 people dying of the illness everyday based on the PCP’s recent data and census, of which 93 percent are unvaccinated.

“Halos tanan nga ospital nagdeklara na FULL CAPACITY tungod sa kadamuon kag kadasig sang pagtaas sang mga kaso sang COVID-19,” the group said.

They are urging all Negrenses and Bacolodnons not to be complacent, pointing out the COVID variants, especially the more infectious Delta variant spreads quickly compared to the original variant, and that is why the public should be more careful.

The group urges the public to properly wear face masks, follow proper physical distancing when outdoors, and practice frequent hand washing.

They are also urging the public not to travel or roam around outside if it is not important or not essential.

Workers in the province, meanwhile, are being urged to immediately contact their employers if they feel any COVID-19 symptoms such as colds, flu, fatigue, diarrhea, and loss of taste.

Finally, the group urged the public to get vaccinated, pointing out all the vaccines available currently are highly-effective and can boost a person’s protection./DGB, WDJ