Negros Occidental has adequate hospital beds for coronavirus patients despite its having been placed under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 by the Department of Health, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured Monday, August 9.
The provincial government’s COVID designated hospitals in Valladolid and Cadiz City still have a lot of space for patients, he pointed out.
Despite the DOH national biosurveillance report that placed Bacolod City under Alert Level 3 and Negros Occidental on Alert Level 2, the health department’s regional office classified both areas as low risk COVID-19 areas.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Western Visayas showed a slow decline, the DOH 6 said.
Lacson said during a Regional Development Council meeting Monday, DOH 6 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an commended the Negros Occidental provincial government for its drive against COVID-19.
The regional director said “we are in a better position than other provinces in Region 6”, Lacson said.
Right now the DOH focus is on Iloilo province and city that need help to boost their health care capacity, he said.
Lacson said also raised at the meeting was the call for government Authorized Persons Outside Residence to be required to undergo RT-PCR tests on entry into the region. They are currently exempted from being tested.*