The first Negros Occidental resident hit with the COVID-19 Delta variant was retested Thursday, August 26, and found negative for the virus.
Six Delta variant cases were earlier detected in Bacolod, which is a highly urbanized city that is not under the jurisdiction of Negros Occidental.
The first case in Negros Occidental is a 52-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who is from Talisay City, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
The OFW returned from the United Arab Emirates and was quarantined in Manila for 24 days, and was issued a clearance by the Bureau of Quarantine to return to Talisay City on August 11.
However, the provincial government was informed on Wednesday, August 25, that genome sequencing of his specimen showed that he had been hit by the Delta variant.
In compliance with a Department of Health rule for persons found positive for the Delta variant, the OFW had himself retested for COVID-19 at the Doctor’s Hospital in Bacolod City, Diaz said.
His results released Thursday night showed he was negative for the virus.
The OFW and his family had earlier been placed under home quarantine.
Delta is called a variant of concern by the World Health Organization because of its high transmissibility. Where the Delta variant is identified, it quickly and efficiently spreads between people, WHO said.
Meanwhile, Diaz said the COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental have been dropping.
The province had 700 active COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported.*