The entire Western Visayas and Negros Island are now under Alert Level 3 (AL3) amid the rising COVID-19 cases.
Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 157-A placed Negros Occidental and Oriental, Iloilo City, Iloilo province and Guimaras under AL3 starting Sunday, January 16, until the end of the month, presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles announced Friday.
IATF Resolution 156-C issued Wednesday had also placed Bacolod City, Aklan, Capiz and Antique under AL3 from January 14 to 31.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said it was inevitable that Negros Occidental would be declared under AL3.
Negros Occidental had 74 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 940 active cases, the Department of Health 6 reported Friday.
Bacolod City had 57 new cases for a total of 559 active cases, it added.
Lacson said borders will not be closed but Negros Occidental will require an S-PaSS with negative RT-PCR test results from all incoming travelers to the province, regardless of vaccination status, including those from Negros Oriental.
The governor issued Executive Order 22-01, Series of 2022 Friday placing Negros Occidental under Alert Level 3 effective January 16 and outlined its restrictions.
The EO states that persons below 18 years of age, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities will only be allowed to travel to obtain essential goods and services, for work permitted industries and offices, and individual outdoor exercises.
The order also limits outdoor venue capacity to 50 percent regardless of vaccination status, and indoor venue capacity to 30 percent for fully vaccinated individuals only.*