This Week in Bacolod (January 23 to 29, 2022)

Negros Island escalated to Alert Level 3 until January 31.

By: Mira Maestrecampo | January 23, 2022

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The provincial and city government of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have implemented measures and regulations in response to the sudden high rate of COVID-19 active cases. Bacolod City and Negros Island, including areas in Western Visayas, are now placed under Alert Level 3 due to rising instances of active COVID-19. Hospitals, medical establishments, and malls have also implemented their steps to help stop the virus transmission. Vaccination, getting booster shots, proper hygiene, wearing masks, and other health protocols are encouraged. There are advantages for fully vaccinated individuals, especially now that there are changes to the rules and regulations under recent Executive Orders issued by the government under Alert Level 3.

Quarantine Updates: Bacolod, Negros Island under Alert Level 3

Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are now placed under Alert Level 3 due to the rising COVID cases took effect last January 14 until January 31.

Other areas in Visayas placed under Alert Level 3 are Negros Oriental, Iloilo City, Iloilo province, and Guimaras. The Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced the heightened alert level in these areas, which took effect last January 16 until the end of the month. [1]

According to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, borders in Negros Island will not be closed. However, Negros Occidental will still need to require travelers with an S-PaSS and a negative RT-PCR test result upon entry into the province, including those from Negros Oriental. These requirements are deemed mandatory regardless of vaccination status.

Intrazonal and interzonal movement is allowed as per Lacson’s Executive Order but with strict regulations for inbound travelers.

Also, with Governor’s recent Executive Order under Alert Level 3, persons below 18 years old, senior citizens, and individuals with comorbidities are only allowed to go out to obtain essential goods, medical services, work permitted activities, or outdoor exercises. [2]

Curfew hours under Alert Level 3 are from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM. Liquor consumption in public areas is only allowed from noon to 10:00 PM. [3]

Various establishments, venues, and social activities in Bacolod City are permitted to operate at a maximum capacity of 30% only for indoor activities and 50% maximum capacity only for outdoor activities.

Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, permitted venues for social events, tourist spots, amusement and theme parks, recreational spots, cinemas, and movie houses, limited face-to-face classes for the higher-level education, licensure/entrance examinations, specialty examinations authorized by the Inter-Agency Task Force, in-person religious gatherings, wakes and funerals for people who died of other causes except for COVID, dine-in services in food establishments, personal care facilities, and fitness studios and gyms are the activities and establishments allowed under the heightened alert level in Bacolod.

On the other hand, activities and places are not allowed since they are classified as avenues for high-risk transmission. Such are face-to-face classes for primary education, contact sports, funfairs or peryas and kid amusements, events with live performers, casinos, cockfighting, lottery, and betting shops, and gatherings in houses involving individuals not belonging under the same household. [4]

This Week in Bacolod (January 23 to January 29, 2022), alert level 3

Vaccination Updates: AstraZeneca vs. Omicron

It was recently found that the AstraZeneca vaccine administered as a booster shot increases antibody response against the Omicron variant.

It was shown through preliminary data from an ongoing safety and immunogenicity trial disclosed last January 14 through a press release by the deputy for medical and data analysis of Emergency Operations Center-Task Force, Dr. Chris Sorongon. [5]

Health News: Covid19 case at high growth rate; limited hospital admissions for preventive care

As of the recent tally, Bacolod City has 187 new active cases, no recoveries, and no deaths. All these active cases are classified as local transmission. There are a total of 24,659 cases. [6]

The growth rate of COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental is increasing, reaching a 3-digit figure as recorded by the Department of Health in Western Visayas. DOH reported that Negros Occidental had a transmission growth at 962%, while Bacolod reached 453%. [7]

This 2-week growth rate led Negros Occidental and Bacolod City to be classified under the “high risk” classification in COVID-19 transmission.

Two leading government-managed hospitals are also on the alerts since they are now limiting accepting patients because of virus transmission among hospital staff and their full bed capacity.

Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City issued their respective advisories limiting patient admission. TLJPH issued a temporary suspension of their obstetrician-gynecology and outpatient department services after medical personnel under these departments tested positive for COVID. The TLJPH also temporarily limits its hospital admissions to emergency cases only. Meanwhile, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City also announced that its Department of Pediatrics would limit admissions only to extreme emergency cases in its non-COVID areas.

This Week in Bacolod (January 23 to January 29, 2022), vaccination

Mall Updates: Malls in response to the surge

Malls, restaurants, and other establishments have the discretion to impose a “no vaccination, no entry” in response to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the city. It was further clarified by Bacolod Vice Mayor and local Inter-Agency Task Force head, El Cid Familiaran. The establishments are permitted to implement measures to ensure safety and consider the welfare of their employees, customers, and the public in general.

Familiaran said that this policy was not included under the recent Executive Order issued by Mayor Leonardia, following the classification of Bacolod under Alert Level 3. [9]


Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more travel and COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Bacolod and Negros Island!


Due to changing quarantine measures, the activities, destination/s, store/s, establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily prohibited or closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!



Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3FHcpkk
[2] https://bit.ly/3FHcpkk
[3] https://bit.ly/3IpIrD0
[4] https://bit.ly/3IpIrD0
[5] https://bit.ly/3rE1mmN
[6] https://bit.ly/3tLeGsd
[7] https://bit.ly/3nJeJB4
[8] https://bit.ly/3nMJjK2
[9] https://bit.ly/33UGHTg


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About Mira Maestrecampo

Mira - with a long surname - is a girl who dreams of becoming a news anchor someday, in God's perfect time. She loves to read books and eat different kinds of cheesy or saucy food. A coffee addict and a dog lover, she loves long hugs, hot coffee on an afternoon break with friends, or simply sleeping all day with her stuffed unicorns.

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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.