BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The highly-urbanized City of Bacolod was added yesterday by the Inter Agency Task Force to the list of areas in the country placed under Alert Level 3 which will take effect from January 14 to 31.
The Department of Health-Western Visayas had earlier placed Bacolod City under Alert Level 3.
Also included in the 28 areas under Alert Level 3 are provinces of Aklan, Capiz, and Antique in Western Visayas.
Negros Occidental remains under Alert Level 2.
Under Alert Level 3, intrazonal and interzonal travel are subject to “reasonable restrictions” that may be imposed by local government units, the IATF said.
Individuals aged 18 below and those belonging in the vulnerable population are also permitted access and travel to procure and avail essential goods and services, and for work.
The following establishments and activities are prohibited under the more stringent alert level are face-to-face classes in basic education, contact sports, fun fairs, karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls and theaters, casinos, horse racing, cockfighting, operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops and other gaming establishments.
At present, Iloilo City is under Alert Level 3.
Inbound travelers to Negros Occidental are now being required to secure negative RT-PCR test results 72 hours prior to their travel, before approval of their S-PaSS.
COVID-19 active cases in Negros Occidental rose to 546 as of January 12, according to a report of the Provincial Incident Management Team.*
