The Negros Occidental provincial government surveillance against monkey pox and COVID-19 at the Bacolod Silay Airport and at seaports is ongoing, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Wednesday, August 3.
“We have never abandoned our posts”, he assured.
They are studying the possibility of requiring isolation areas for persons hit with monkey pox, he said.
“The concern has been forwarded to the Hospital Operations Department so even if monkey pox strikes here we will have a health facility ready to address patients’ needs,” he said.
Monkey pox is a viral zoonosis with symptoms similar to those seen in smallpox patients.
Meanwhile, there were 34 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental on Wednesday bringing the total active cases in the province to 121, the Provincial Incident Management Team, reported.
Diaz said while the active cases have increased, the number of COVID-hit patients hospitalized has remained low.
There were 15 confirmed and 16 suspected COVID-19 cases at the Cadiz District Hospital as of August 1, he said.
The Cadiz District Hospital is the designated COVID-19 facility of the province.
“The situation is not bad because hospitalization is low,” Diaz said.
Those who test positive usually only have fever and sore throats, he added.*