Bacolod City may impose more stringent travel protocols amid the doubling of its daily COVID-19 cases, Em Legaspi Ang Emergency Operations Center (EOC) executive director, said Thursday, January 6.
The EOC has submitted its recommendations to the mayor, she said.
Ang pointed out that COVID -19 daily cases in Bacolod City increased from single digits to 14 reported on Tuesday, 16 on Wednesday and 34 on Thursday this week.
The number has doubled and the increase has been fast, Ang said.
Those who tested positive had travel histories or had attended holiday gatherings, she said.
Bacolod City currently allows entry to inbound passengers who are fully vaccinated against COVID1-9, while those who are not must present a negative RT-PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival.
Ang noted that Negros Occidental and Iloilo City will require all incoming passengers from Alert Level 3 areas to submit negative RT-PCR test results.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Thursday again reminded Bacolodnons that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and that they should observe minimum health protocols to control the transmission of the deadly virus.
Leonardia also noted an increase in COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region. Health authorities suspect that the increase in daily spread may already be due to the Omicron variant, he said.
“We should remain compliant with the minimum health protocols. Getting vaccinated certainly protects us but we have to be reminded to wear a face mask, avoid crowded places and observe social distancing at all times,” the mayor said.
The Department of Health (DOH), in a press statement Thursday, said 29 new cases of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern were detected from the 48 samples sequenced on January 2.
Aside from these 29 Omicron cases, there were 18 positive for the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant while one had no lineage assigned.
The latest sequencing run was composed of samples from 19 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 29 local cases from areas with case clusters, the DOH said.
The 29 Omicron variant cases are composed of 10 ROFs and 19 local cases with indicated addresses in the National Capital Region (NCR), bringing the total number of confirmed Omicron variant cases to 43, it said.
Two Omicron cases have been reported in Western Visayas – with one each in Bacolod City and Iloilo City.
Of the 19 local cases, 14 cases are still active, three cases have been tagged as recovered, while there are two cases whose outcomes are still being verified, the DOH said.
Of the additional 18 Delta variant cases, 8 were ROFs. The ten local cases also had NCR as their indicated address, it said.
This update brings the total number of confirmed Delta variant cases in the Philippines to 8,497, the DOH said.*