Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said on Wednesday, October 26, that he is okay with the voluntary use of masks indoors because “there is no more clear and present danger”.
“For so long there have been no more critical (COVID-19) cases, fresh cases are very manageable,” he said.
He said there were large crowds that gathered for political rallies before the May elections and during the MassKara Festival, and there has been no COVID-19 outbreak.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco on Tuesday confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to issue an executive order lifting the mandatory use of face masks indoors, with a few exceptions.
Negros Occidental will follow whatever the national government orders, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said.
Although daily COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental have risen to double digits hospitalization of patients is low, he said.
Most of those hit are only experiencing flu-like symptoms, he said.*