By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Several cities in Negros Occidental are currently noticing a surge in new COVID-19 cases.

Provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said some areas in the province are only recording either one case per day, but in other areas such as Cadiz City on Wednesday recorded 21 new COVID-19 cases in a single day.

“Yes, may ara pagdamo, pero ang pagdamo isolated sa mga cities,” Diaz said.

Other cities experiencing a surge in new cases are Bago and Kabankalan.

With religious festivities such as the feast of Santo Niño in Cadiz City and Kabankalan City, Diaz said they are closely monitoring the two cities.

He further added that so far, there are still no restrictions in celebrating the religious festivities, as Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has not yet released an appeal or an order to organizers to cancel the events.

“Si governor na lang bahala as to what advice he would give among the [local government units],” he added.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of a new surge in COVID-19 cases, Diaz said within a week, they can energize the annex building of the Cadiz District Hospital.

Once energized, the hospital’s COVID-19 bed capacity may be increased by another 100 beds, bringing the total to 200 available COVID-19 beds.

As of January 13, the occupied COVID-19 beds in the said facility are only 15.

The Cadiz District Hospital is Negros Occidental’s primary COVID-19 isolation center./DGB, WDJ