By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The provincial government of Negros Occidental is hoping and praying that a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge will not take place in the province following warnings from the country’s health experts that a possible surge may take place after the 2022 national and local elections in May.

Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said they remain cautious with the current COVID-19 situation and they continue to implement stringent screenings in various seaports in the province and at the Bacolod-Silay Airport.

During the Holy Week observance, Watchmen Daily Journal was able to positively confirm Diaz’s pronouncements as passengers arriving from Iloilo and Metro Manila were being told to present a COVID-19 vaccination card prior to being allowed entry into the province.

Travelers who were either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated, meanwhile, were told to undergo rapid antigen tests.
The same type of strict protocols had also been observed at the Bacolod-Silay Airport.

According to Diaz, he is hoping that the measures they are observing would be enough to prevent a possible surge in the province’s COVID-19 cases.

As of April 19, the Provincial Incident Management Team in Negros Occidental reported that the number of active COVID-19 cases in the province has already dropped to nine after recording one new case.

Total confirmed cases in the province since March of 2020 is at 41,385 with 39,407 recoveries, and 1,968 deaths./DGB, WDJ