BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is recommending more local government units in Negros Occidental to be placed under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 by April 16, revealed Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Rayfrando Diaz yesterday.
Diaz said seven more LGUs in Negros Occidental performed well, with 70 percent and above of their 80 percent targeted population already vaccinated, composed of Cadiz City, Talisay City, Murcia, Pontevedra, Victorias City, Silay City and Candoni.
The Inter-Agency Task Force, as recommended by the Department of Health, earlier declared the towns of EB Magalona, Pulupandan and San Enrique as well as the component cities of La Carlota and Sagay under Alert Level 1, following a request of the provincial government of Negros Occidental that the declaration of alert level classification be done per LGU and not per province.
Diaz said they are happy that their recommendation was approved by the DOH in an official resolution.
“This will pave the way for the other LGUs to be reclassified and de-escalated to Alert Level 1 for the next period after having met the parameters set by DOH,” he pointed out.
Twenty-six other LGUs in Negros Occidental, excluding highly urbanized Bacolod City, remain under Alert Level 2 from April 1 to 15.
Diaz disclosed that even some of those areas have zero active cases. So, he added, there is no reason for DOH to deny the downgrading of the alert level classification.
In areas under Alert Level 1, which is the lowest category in the country’s COVID-19 alert level system, movement of persons, regardless of age and comorbidities, is allowed, but with restrictions on crowded and closed spaces and close contact settings.
Also, private establishments and government agencies are allowed to operate at full on-site capacity, subject to minimum public health standards.*
