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Bacolod DRRMO photoVehicles of Negros Occidental local government units began picking up arriving passengers headed for their areas at seaports and airports Tuesday, April 20, with the end of the moratorium on travel to Western Visayas, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.This is being done so persons entering their localities can be monitored for COVID-19, to prevent a further surge of the virus, Diaz said.Victorias City announced that all travelers from outside Region 6, except for government Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) on official business, will be tested on arrival for COVID-19.There were reported cases of four APORs, six Overseas Filipino Workers, and one Locally Stranded Individual who submitted negative RT-PCR results taken from their poi...

Escalante PNP photoWhile some policemen in Metro Manila were under fire following a red-tagging incident of a community pantry organizer, two police stations in Negros Occidental joined the initiative Tuesday, April 20, to help their constituents.The Escalante City Police Station led by Lt. Col. Gil John Despi set up a community pantry in front of their station, where the public can get free food such as eggs, vegetables, rice, canned goods, fruits, and other essential goods.The police also posted messages that read: "Tabang sang mga kapulisan sa mas ga kinahanglan (help of the police for those in need)" and "Kuha lang basi sa kinahanglan ug paghatag basi sa masarangan (take what you need and give what you can).”They started the initiative to help those who are in need and ...

The government rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has been slow, less than half of the health care workers (HCWs) on the A1 priority list of Negros Occidental have been vaccinated.The Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines sent to Negros Occidental only cover 12,660 HCWs, of the 28,000 on their A1 priority list, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Tuesday, April 20.Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the HCWs who have been fully vaccinated or who have received their second doses were 3,929 as of Monday.“The vaccine roll out has been slow,” he said.“We are administering the vaccines given to us based on the priority list, we cannot jump the line. We have to be disciplined enough to wait for our turn,” he said.Another shipment of vaccines is expected this m...

Slain provincial government consultant Antonio “Marton” Cui was laid to rest at the San Carlos City Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon, April 20.*Screen grab from live coverage of funeralCrowds lined the streets of San Carlos City to bid farewell to Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui as his remains were brought to his final resting place at the San Carlos City Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon, April 20.Cui, who was Negros Occidental provincial consultant on hospital operations, was shot and killed as he was leaving his office at Emerald Arcade in San Carlos City on April 20.The police are investigating the questionable presence of three vehicles on the night of his killing that were captured by CCTV cameras, but still have no leads on the assailants and the motive, Lt. Abegael Donasco,...

There were 145 Negros Occidental residents who recovered from COVID-19 Tuesday, April 20, but the province still has 2,233 active cases.Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said the 145 who recovered are from Bago City – 31, Binalbagan - 24, San Carlos City – 23, Silay City – 21, Himamaylan City - 16, Escalante City and Cauayan – 8 each, Talisay City - 5, La Carlota City – 4, Sagay City - 2, and Manapla, Kabankalan City and EB Magalona -1 each.Negros Occidental has had 10,056 COVID-19 cases since March last year with 7,578 recoveries and 245 deaths.The province had 176 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the Department of Health reported.Bacolod City had 37 new COVID-19 cases bringing its total active cases to 691, the DOH report also showed.*

The Bago City Hospital will reopen its out-patient and emergency services on April 24, Dr. Rey Pacillan, BCH acting chief, said Tuesday April 20.The rest of the hospital services are expected to resume in May, he said.He said 41 of their staff tested positive for COVID-19 and they cannot fully resume operations as some are still in quarantine.Their nurses cannot return to work in full force yet, he explained.*

The Department of Health has classified Negros Occidental as a high-risk area for COVID-19 and Bacolod City as a moderate risk area, a DOH official announced Monday, April 19.Negros Occidental’s COVID-19 average daily attack rate per 100,000 population has increased from 1.45 percent to 5.26 percent, Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, DOH 6 infectious disease cluster head, said in a virtual press conference.The two-week COVID-19 growth rate of Negros Occidental was 261 percent, she added.Bacolod City has been classified as a moderate risk area with its daily attack rate having increased from 3.79 percent to 5.98 percent, while its two-week growth rate is 58 percent, Juanico said.Twenty-eight persons hit by COVID-19 in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have died this month.There ha...

HELPING OTHERS. This community pantry outside a milk tea shop at Araneta Street, Bacolod City, is among the initiatives started by the residents on Monday, April 19, to help those in need.*Romeo Subaldo photoInspired by the selfless initiative of the residents of Metro Manila, Bacolodnons and Negrenses also united to start their community pantries in several areas of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental Monday, April 19.In Bacolod City, Kim Lizares and her group opened a community pantry at 12th Lacson Street, where they offer free essential items such as canned goods, noodles, eggs, vegetables, and other goods.The group set up their pantry under a makeshift canopy outside a residence of a good samaritan who offered his place for a joint initiative.On Facebook, Lizares called...