Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is concerned that eight Transcom Bacolod employees who tested positive for COVID-19 from four cities and two towns in Negros Occidental could have spread the virus because they commuted by public transportation to their workplace.
Bacolod City Administrator Em Ang on Sunday confirmed that 41 Transcom Bacolod employees tested positive for the virus, and Lacson said today, February 1, that eight of them are from towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
Two are from Bago City, two from Silay City, and one each from Victorias and Cadiz cities and Valladolid and EB Magalona towns, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
“I understand many of them, including the eight, took public transport so that’s my worry. I hope they did not spread it (the virus) even further,” Lacson said.
The fact that the 41 have been identified means at least they can be quarantined and treated, he added.
“I think Bacolod is on top of the situation. They will have to deal with the company if there were any protocols violated,” Lacson said.
The governor said provincial government employees are constantly reminded that they should not report for work if they wake up in the morning and are not feeling well.
Everyone should practice self-discipline and know when not to go to work, he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the test results of a Pontevedra couple who arrived from the United Kingdom have not been released by the Philippine Genome Center yet.
Samples from the couple who tested positive for COVID-19 were sent to the Philippine Genome Center to determine if they have the highly contagious UK COVID-19 variant, he said.
Lacson said the provincial government will continue with its existing protocol to tests all those arriving in the province for COVID-19 as a deterrent against the spread of the virus.
Bacolod City allows persons to enter the city provided they have COVID-19 negative test results three days before their departure from their point of origin.*