BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have 24 more Covid-19 cases yesterday, as reported by Department of Health in Western Visayas.
Bacolod City has 13 more cases, and two in Bago City, and one each in Cauayan, Valladolid, Hinigaran, Sipalay City, EB Magalona, Binalbagan, San Carlos, Talisay, and Toboso, in Negros Occidental.
Almost all of the 24 new cases in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are repatriated overseas Filipino workers, the DOH said.
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo reported that the 38-year-old dialysis patient in Bago, whose death in a hospital was triggered by cardiac arrest, tested negative for Covid-19.
But according to the rules of DOH, he was still being considered as a Covid patient, and it was still a Covid death, although he was negative, Yulo said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Even the holding of wakes is prohibited, according to DOH protocols, he added.
On the other hand, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has called on Negrenses to rally behind the frontliners and healthcare workers in the fight against Covid-19, by staying home and observing strictly the mandated health protocols.
Lacson said he acknowledged that they are already drained, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
“Mankind was not prepared for this and you were the ones thrust into the battlefield where the full strength of enemy confronts you,” Lacson said, as he also noted that they are now “at the point of being consumed.”*