Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, April 25, appealed to Negrenses to voluntarily go back to wearing face masks to prevent an upsurge in COVID-19 cases and the imposition of restrictions that could hurt the economy.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has kept 16 of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental under Alert Level 2.
Areas under Alert Level 2 are mandated to implement restrictions such as a 50 percent capacity in establishments indoors for fully vaccinated adults and 70 percent capacity outdoors, the IATF said.
Lacson said “as much as possible let’s avoid putting restrictions so I’m really recommending again the using of face masks to protect ourselves.”
Otherwise, if the trend continues to go up an executive order may be needed, he said.
The 16 LGUs under Alert Level 2 in Negros Occidental are Bago, Kabankalan, San Carlos, Sipalay, and Escalante cities, and Binalbagan, Calatrava, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Isabela, La Castellana, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Salvador Benedicto and Toboso.
Lacson noted that Negros Occidental has been tagged among 24 provinces in the country that have seen an increase in COVID-19 cases.
On Tuesday Negros Occidental had eight new COVID-19 cases for a total of 63 active cases.
Lacson also called on unvaccinated individuals to limit their travel, “if it’s not important just stay home”.
“We have had people dying because of COVID and being unvaccinated,” he said.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday ordered the enforcement of the “no face mask, no ride” policy in public transportation in Bacolod City that is under Alert Level 1.
The Bacolod Public Order and Safety Office is also distributing free face masks to people visiting the Bacolod City Government Center.
Bacolod City had 44 active COVID-19 cases and one new death on Monday.
There have been eight COVID-19 related deaths in Bacolod City since the start of the year. All of the fatalities were unvaccinated.*