Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is issuing an executive order extending the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 status in Negros Occidental until November 15 and requiring the wearing of face masks in all provincial government buildings.
“In my executive order I will specifically say that in all dealings inside a provincial government building, face mask is mandatory,” he said Wednesday, November 2.
The Department of Health in its COVID-19 alert level classifications for November 1 to 15 extended Negros Occidental’s AL 2 status, while Bacolod remains under AL 1.
Although President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 7 on October 28 allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor settings, Lacson said he believes the local autonomy of Local Government Units allows him to require the wearing of face masks in provincial government offices.
Under EO 7, the wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings shall be voluntary except in healthcare facilities, medical transport, and public transportation by land, air, or sea.
Lacson said while there was an increase in new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental last week, in the last three days they have been going down again.
The active COVID 19-cases in Negros Occidental on October 30 were 164 and on November 1 they dropped to 140.
“Alert Level 2 tells us to continue to be vigilant…(it) reminds us that COVID is very much around, what makes it difficult is the national government is already allowing voluntary use of face masks inside, but of course there are limitations,” Lacson said.
Mask-wearing is still encouraged for the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised persons, pregnant women, unvaccinated individuals, and symptomatic individuals, the president said in his EO.*