Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia has ordered the closure of all beach resorts in barangays Punta Taytay and Pahanocoy in Bacolod on Easter Sunday, April 4, to contain the surge of COVID -19 cases in the city.
Leonardia’s order came after meeting barangay officials and resort owners of the two barangays Tuesday afternoon, March 30, who agreed to temporarily close on Sunday to prevent huge crowds from gathering.
The mayor said he will also meet with resort owners in barangays Alangilan and Granada on Wednesday
“This is just a preventive measure, this is not a lockdown,” Leonardia said.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson Tuesday also reminded the public to seriously observe all health protocols during Holy Week amid the spike in COVID-19 cases.
During Holy Week we should thank the Lord for dying for us and saving us from our sins, Lacson said.
We should also hear mass online instead of going to churches to avoid crowds and prevent the spread of COVID-19, he said.
Travelers during Holy Week should be mindful of their activities and seriously observe minimum health protocols, Lacson added.
Leonardia said the Lord has said that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and the best way to honor that is by following health protocols.
During this pandemic we should sacrifice to save ourselves and others, he said, stressing the need to wear face masks and shields, practice social distancing and avoid social gatherings.
Bacolod City Administrator Em Ang said hospitals in the city are full again with the spike in COVID-19 cases.
The Department of Health 6 has classified Bacolod as a high risk area for COVID-19.
The DOH reported 34 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental and 18 in Bacolod City Tuesday.
Negros Occidental has 419 active COVID-19 cases and Bacolod City has 195, the DOH added.
Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares has issued an advisory discouraging all Talisaynons from gathering and crowding public beaches and resorts during the Lenten vacation as a precautionary measure with the sudden resurgence of COVID-19 cases.*