Negros Occidental is weathering a strong storm as COVID-19 cases and deaths keep piling up, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Thursday, September 23, said.
The province had 13 new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday bringing the total fatalities for September up to 174, he said.
There were also 239 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental on Thursday, for a total of 3,226 active cases.
Most of the fatalities were suffering from other ailments making them vulnerable to COVID-19, he said.
The Negros Occidental COVID-19 designated centers’ occupancy rates were at 102 percent at the Valladolid District Hospital, 92 percent at the Cadiz District Hospital and 17 percent at the Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital in Himamaylan City on Thursday, Diaz said.
The occupancy rate at the provincial government quarantine facilities has also gone up, he said.
The provincial government has set up a 20 by 80 feet tent outside the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City where about 15 patients can be assisted while waiting for their RT-PCR test results, he said.
Those who test negative are admitted at the TLJP for treatment while those who are positive are brought to COVID designated centers, Diaz said.
Diaz said with the opening up of 51 beds at the Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial District Hospital, and about 100 more soon at the Cadiz District Hospital annex the province will be able to adequately accommodate more COVID-19 patients.
They are adjusting to meet the growing demand for COVID-19 hospital beds, he said.
COVID-19 contact tracing and testing is ongoing provincewide to ensure that those who test positive are isolated right away, Diaz added.
Meanwhile, the management of the Binalbagan Infirmary in an advisory said its infirmary triage area has reached full capacity.
All respiratory assigned beds are fully occupied, the advisory added.*