One hundred eighteen more travelers from Manila subjected to rapid antigen tests on arrival in Negros Occidental during the weekend were found reactive and have been quarantined.
The 118 bring to 220 the number of travelers who entered Negros Occidental found antigen reactive since Thursday, January 6, Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Incident Management Team head, said Sunday, January 9.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said 120 of the locally stranded individuals who arrived in Negros Occidental this January were found COVID-19 positive after RT-PCR confirmatory tests.
Negros Occidental also had 107 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Of the 107 Kabankalan and Bago cities had 14 each, Victorias City -10, La Castellana – 9, Talisay and Silay cities – 7 each, Escalante and Cadiz cities – 6 each, Sipalay City – 5, Sagay City, Manapla and La Carlota City – 4 each, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Calatrava, Ilog and Pontevedra – 2 each, and Isabela, Binalbagan, Valladolid, EB Magalona, Pulupandan, Cauayan and San Carlos City – 1 each, Diaz said.
Meanwhile, 48 passengers on four flights who arrived at the Bacolod Silay Airport were found reactive on Saturday and 70 more on board one flight and two vessels on Sunday, Caelian said.
The report for Sunday is partial because test results of passengers on board flights later in the day were not available yet, he said.
On Thursday, 25 passengers on five flights were found reactive and 77 more on seven flights Friday.
Caelian said of the 25 on Thursday, 21 had positive RT-PCR test results for COVID-19 on retesting.
The four who had negative results were turned over to their local government units.
The provincial government will continue conducting antigen tests on incoming passengers as complaints have been made that is difficult for inbound travelers to get RT-PCR tests prior to departure from Manila at this time, Caelian said.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued Executive Order 21-61-A, Series of 2022 Thursday requiring all inbound travelers from areas under Alert Level 3 to present negative RT-PCR test results obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival in Negros Occidental starting Sunday, January 9.
The negative RT-PCR results will be required regardless of the incoming passenger’s vaccination status, Lacson said.
The governor also directed the Provincial Health Office to conduct rapid antigen testing on all incoming passengers without negative RT-PCR results yet.*