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Mayor Ernesto Estrao has ordered the temporary closure of the Rural Health Unit and birthing center in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, after several of their personnel tested positive for COVID-19.The two facilities have been closed for disinfection and will reopen Monday, Estrao said Thursday, June 17.Seven out of 12 newly identified COVID-19 cases in Hinobaan are personnel of the RHU.The four others are family members who are considered close contacts and one Hinoba-an local government employee.Estrao said a medical technologist at the RHU was the first to test positive so the rest of the staff were swabbed for COVID-19 tests.The other RHU and birthing center personnel who tested positive are nurses and midwives, Estrao said.Contact tracing is underway and more test...

EB Magalona LGU photoThe EB Magalona municipal government has implemented stringent measures to curb the recent surge of Covid-19 cases in the locality from June 15 to 30.Mayor Marvin Malacon, in Executive Order No. 40 signed June 15, said that Covid-19 cases in the town have jumped from 275 on April 8 to 475 on June 14.Due to this, he has directed the closure of commercial establishments every Sunday, except for drug stores and pharmacies, dental and medical clinics, gasoline stations, and water refilling stations.Establishments that will be closed every Sunday are:*Groceries, sari-sari stores, convenience stores, all public markets*Restaurants, cafes, refreshments, carinderia, bakeshop, and other food retail establishments*Hardware and construction supply*Laundry shops*Gy...

Contributed photoSenator Richard Gordon said the opening of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Silay City Branch in Negros Occidental will enable the PRC to make a difference in more people’s lives.Gordon, who was the virtual guest speaker at the inauguration and blessing of the PRC Silay City branch Thursday, June 17, said PRC saves lives and in the process changes minds.“We harness the power of humanity to see to it that we are always there when needed,” said Gordon, who is also PRC chairman and chief executive officer.The PRC Silay City Branch can grow into having its own blood bank and its own ambulances, he added.It is important to have a PRC branch in every city to have quick reaction forces when needed, Gordon said.He urged young people to join the PRC Youth beca...

Madonnah Marañon-Jaojoco and Ma. Luisa de la Cruz (l-r)*It appears that a "unity ticket" is taking shape in Toboso, Negros Occidental, for the May 2022 local elections as Madonnah Marañon-Jaojoco, the current town first lady, is being endorsed by majority of the barangay leaders as their next mayor.In a surprise twist, the same barangay leaders are batting for Ma. Luisa de la Cruz, former ABC president and three-time rival of incumbent Mayor Richard Jaojoco, as vice mayor of Madonnah, niece of the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.Madonnah, a nurse by profession, is political newcomer but is no stranger to public service as she has been actively supporting her husband's health and wellness advocacies as well as programs on women, children and depressed communities.She studied at...

Any laboratory that fails to report COVID-19 positive RT-PCR test results to the Bacolod Emergency Operations Center can face legal action, Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC deputy for medical data and analysis, said Thursday, June 14.Failure to report is a violation of Republic Act No. 11332, or the mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern act, he said.All laboratories accredited by the Bacolod City government musts submit all RT-PCR test results of Bacolod residents every day, he said.Sorongon issued the warning, when asked about an alleged laboratory in Bacolod that was not submitting RT-PCR test results to the EOC.Mass vaccination against COVID-19 in Bacolod City is ongoing at the SMX Convention Center, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and...

PVO photoThe Provincial Veterinary Office has recorded a 39 percent increase in rabies positive cases in dogs with 13 in eight localities in Negros Occidental from January to May this year, compared to six cases in the same period last year.The increase in cases was attributed to the COVID-19 restrictions where only 46.95 percent, or 126,484 dogs, were vaccinated of the total 273,000 dog population.To attain herd immunity, at least 70 percent, or 191,100 heads, of the dog population must be vaccinated.As of May, the top three local government units with the highest number of rabies-positive dogs were Himamaylan City, Victorias City, and Cauayan town.This prompted the PVO through its Provincial Veterinary District Field Units to conduct immediate massive vaccination....

Travelers between Iloilo City and Bacolod City on board fastcraft vessels increased Wednesday, June 16 with the lifting of a travel moratorium.Mayor Jerry Treñas, in his executive order extending Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine in Iloilo City until June 30, lifted the travel moratorium on inbound and outbound travel of persons from Negros Island to Iloilo City and vice versa effective Wednesday.He also lifted all border controls and the requirement of quarantine passes for the ingress and egress to barangays and establishments in Iloilo City.Treñas said this means even non essential travelers may now enter his city.Travelers from Iloilo City to Bacolod City on board Weesam Express that were at 50 a day in the past increased to about 100 on Wednesday, Frank Carbon, We...

Negros Occidental will receive its first batch of Pfizer vaccines Thursday morning, June 17, Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said.They were informed that two boxes of Pfizer vaccines will arrive but he does not know yet how many doses they will contain, Diaz said.The province has ultra low freezers available for the storage of the Pfizer vaccines at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and one is being installed at the Provincial Health Office in Bacolod City, he said.Diaz said the freezers purchased by the provincial government came just in time.Negros Occidental previously received Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines from the Department of Health.The Office of Civil Defense said the Negros Occidental shipment will arrive at the Bacolod-Silay...