By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Negros Occidental confirmed that they have recorded 10 fatalities due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the province in just one week.

Dr. Jessica Pama, assistant Provincial Health Officer, on Friday, August 26, said of the 10 fatalities, five were unvaccinated, while the remaining five’s vaccination status had yet to be determined as the PHO does not have their records.

“We assume that these five were also unvaccinated,” she said.

For the month of August, Pama said they can’t say if there is an increase in COVID-19 mortalities in the province due to late reporting.

She said a large majority of the COVID-19 deaths in the province were unvaccinated or they already have existing comorbidities.

She said the PHO is currently doubling their efforts to get the minors vaccinated, especially since most schools in the province have already resumed full face-to-face classes.

At present, Pama said based on the targets set under the Department of Health’s (DOH) LakasPinas Program, the province needs to achieve a 90 percent fully vaccinated rate for the general population in just 100 days.

Another target under the DOH program is to achieve a 50 percent booster shot rate for the general population.

Pama said only 6.62 percent of the Negrenses have gotten the booster shot.

“With only one month to go, ang challenge really is very big although subong ginabuligan kita sang Relief International,” Pama said.

She added that Relief International is helping them inform and convince the public, especially in the southern part of the province, to get vaccinated or if already fully vaccinated, get the booster shot.

As of August 25, Negros Occidental has 232 active COVID-19 cases with deaths now at 2,003 and recoveries at 40,139.

Total cases since March of 2020 reached 42,375./DGB, WDJ