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The Department of Health downgraded Bacolod City’s COVID-19 risk classification from high to moderate on Monday, June 21, but the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) forecasts that cases in the city will further increase towards the end of the month.Negros Occidental’s classification remained at low risk, Dr. Marie Jocelyn Te, DOH 6 medical officer IV, also said in an online press briefing.The average daily COVID-19 attack rate of Bacolod City was 18.03 percent from May 24 to June 6 and 17.43 percent from June 7 to 20, she said.The average daily COVID-19 attack rate of Negros Occidental was 4.21 percent from May 24 to June 6 and 3.73 percent from June 7 to 20, she added.Bacolod City had 84 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 2,208 active cases on Mo...

Covid-19 mass vaccination at the Escalante City plaza Monday, June 21.*About 90 percent of the 11,909 doses of Sinovac vaccines delivered to the 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental in the last five days have been administered on Negrenses as of Monday, June 21, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.The remaining 2,616 doses out of a total of 14,525 will be distributed on Tuesday, June 22, he said.The aim is to fully administer all 14,525 doses on Tuesday, he said.The Department of Health is sending 10,000 more doses of Sinovac vaccines to Negros Occidental Tuesday, Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the infectious disease cluster of the DOH in Western Visayas, said.The inoculation of 11,700 Pfizer vaccines will be conducted at the Negros Residences in Bacolod C...

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said he tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, June 20, and is now under medical care at a hospital.The bishop is symptomatic but is in stable condition and is so far responding to treatment, Fr. Marjun Almario, Diocese of San Carlos chancellor, said Monday, June 21.“Now God allows me to be on the other side among the infected of this dreaded virus,” the bishop said.He said for the time being Msgr. Erwin Magnanao, Diocese of San Carlos vicar general, will take over his responsibilities.The bishop assured that he is being given the best possible medical attention available.“I ask for everyone’s prayers for my fast healing as well as for other COVID-19 patients even as I assure you too of my constant prayers and offerings,” he said....

Capitol photoNegros Occidental and Bacolod City will receive 25,000 more Sinovac doses on Tuesday, June 22, Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, head of the infectious disease cluster of the Department of Health in Western Visayas, said Monday.Bacolod City will receive 15,000 doses and Negros Occidental will get 10,000, she said.“We have to continue improving our roll out and show DOH that we can handle more vaccines than they have been allocating for our province,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.“We thank DOH-6 Regional Director Emilia Monicimpo for responding to our continuing requests for more vaccines,” Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.This is good news because this will accelerate the momentum of Bacolod’s vaccination program, he said.“To date we have alr...

Talisay PNP photoA motorcycle driver died while his companion sustained injuries in an accident at Barangay Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, June 20.Killed was Ronnie Pastor, 39, while back rider Christopher Gustilo, 25, was injured.Pastor allegedly lost control of the speeding motorcycle, Lt. Peter John Ramos, Talisay deputy police chief, said.The victims, who were reportedly drunk, were thrown off the motorcycle and hit the pavement.The police said they were also not wearing helmets.The motorcycle driver succumbed to head injuries.*

NOCPPO photosThe 39 cops of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office who were hit with COVID-19 received cash assistance at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City Monday, June 21.Col. Romy Palgue, police provincial director, handed over the P6,000 worth of COVID-19 cash assistance to each of the policemen who had already recovered from the virus.The assistance came from the Police Regional Office-6.As of June 21, a total of 165 NOCPPO personnel have been infected by the virus since the start of the pandemic, with 30 active cases while 135 have already recovered and returned to work.*