The Department of Health in Western Visayas has classified Bacolod City as a COVID-19 high risk area, Dr. Jane Juanico, DOH 6 infectious disease cluster head, said Monday, March 29.
Negros Occidental, Aklan and Capiz are classified as low risk areas, and Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo province and Iloilo City as moderate risk areas in terms of their COVID-19 two-week growth rate, she said.
The two-week growth rate of the COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City increased by 614 percent that is why it has been classified as high risk, Juanico said.
Bacolod’s growth rate was -24.14 in the previous five to six weeks, she said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said because of the sudden daily spike in COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City, he has ordered the temporary closure of the Bacolod City Government Center grounds starting Monday until April 4.
Bacolod City registered 33 new COVID-19 cases Monday, and a high number of cases in previous days that had not happened for a long time, he said.
He also said Bacolod’s COVID-19 active cases as of Monday were 188, from a low of 24 last month.
The closure of the BCGC grounds is a preventive measure, not a lockdown, he said, pointing out that COVID cases have been rising throughout the country.
Bacolod is also having a problem with hospital beds with numerous health care workers hit by COVID-19, he said.
Leonardia said he is also finalizing an executive order that will regulate the use of beaches, especially during Holy Week.
A review of coffee shop and resort operations in Barangay Alangilan is also being undertaken, he said.
The mayor called on the public to cooperate to help prevent the further spread of the virus.
Continue to follow all health protocols and limit socializing to immediate family members, he said.
City Administrator Em Ang, Emergency Operations Center executive director, said Bacolod City has had 188 COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks, and three deaths in March.
“We had two consecutive deaths on Saturday and Sunday”, she said, pointing out that prior to mid-March the city had no deaths for a long time.
There have been 6,037 COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City, including 187 deaths, the DOH reported Monday.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas hit 27,263 Monday, with 1,777 active cases, the DOH said.
Juanico said in January WV had an average of 52 COVID-19 cases a day, February – 59 and March – 76.*