The provincial government is again appealing to travelers and returning Negrenses to voluntarily agree to be swabbed for COVID-19 tests on their arrival in Negros Occidental and to be quarantined until their negative results are out.
“That is the only safeguard we have that in the past proved to be very effective,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, May 11.
He said the province was able to keep its COVID-19 active cases down to 50 until Resolution 101 was imposed.
National Inter-Agency Task Force Resolution 101 states that testing and quarantine on arrival cannot be mandatorily imposed. However, travelers can be required to submit negative RT-PCR test results taken within 72 hours prior to their departure from their point of origin.
Negros Occidental had 216 new COVD-19 cases Tuesday, the Department of Health reported.
The province currently has 2,352 active COVID-19 cases, the Provincial Incident Management Team also reported.
Diaz, in appealing to travelers to submit to testing and quarantine on arrival, said “let’s personally embrace the practice even if it is just voluntary because you will be protecting yourselves and your family.”
The provincial government has opened 150 more rooms at its quarantine facility in EB Magalona, he said.
Those who do not wish to stay at provincial quarantine facilities can opt to stay at Limman’s Inn in Bacolod City at their own expense, he added.*