There has been a spike in COVID-19 cases in three cities in Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, October 27.
The increase in cases has been noted in the cities of Kabankalan, Cadiz, and San Carlos, he said.
The spike in cases in Kabankalan City occurred at a relocation site where numerous people were hit by the virus, he said.
This was exacerbated by the fact that a COVID-19 positive person joined the wake of a person who died and infected others present, he said.
Diaz said the spike in Cadiz City occurred when City Health Office employees were hit by the virus, Diaz added.
The increase in cases in San Carlos can be attributed to the fact that it is a port area where vessels from Cebu dock, he said.
However, Diaz said the overall COVID-19 trend for Negros Occidental showed that cases are going down.
Hospitals in the province are not overflowing with COVID-19 cases and provincial quarantine facilities are available, he said.
Diaz attributed this to the vigilance of local officials in ensuring that measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
The provincial government is improving the bed capacity of its hospitals to ensure that it is ready for a possible second wave of COVID-19 cases, Diaz said.
Meanwhile, he said the construction of a COVID-19 molecular laboratory to be run by a private firm at the Valladolid District Hospital in Valladolid town targeted to be completed in the first week of October is now expected to be completed in the second week of November.*