By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

Negros Occidental is bracing for an expected spike in COVID-19 cases in December following the relaxation of several health protocols, such as wearing of face masks and easing of travel protocols particularly for foreigners.

Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said although cases in the province are expected to increase in the coming weeks, so far hospital utilization in the province remains low.

Diaz said most of the COVID-19 patients confined at the Cadiz District Hospital (CDH) — the province’s designated COVID treatment facility — are unvaccinated.

As of November 12, 44 confirmed positive cases were admitted at CDH while 27 were suspected cases.

The occupancy rate at CDH is at 79.78 percent, while hospitals in Bacolod City have a 20 percent rate.

As of November 18, the province has a total of 264 active COVID-19 cases./DGB, WDJ