The closure of Negros Occidental’s borders is possible if the COVID-19 cases start going up again, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, January 3.
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are bracing for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases triggered by the Omicron variant, and the increasing numbers in Metro Manila.
The Department of Health on Monday said the COVID-19 risk classification of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City is “minimal”.
It placed Negros Occidental under Alert Level 2 and Bacolod City under Alert Level 1.
Bacolod City had 148 COVID-19 active cases and Negros Occidental had 177 on Monday.
Lacson said people should not be complacent despite the low number of cases in Negros Occidental, they should continue to practice health protocols to avoid getting infected and spreading the virus.
Lacson, in his New Year’s message Monday, also said Covid-19 vaccination efforts in Negros Occidental continue to level up with the arrival of massive amounts of vaccines in the province.
The provincial government also recently inaugurated its Nitro Sterile Medical Waste Decomposer and Treatment facility at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City that will grind all hazardous waste in the hospital, including Covid-19 related waste materials such as PPEs, syringes, needles, swab and test kits, and vials, he added.*