• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez yesterday issued a reminder that COVID-19 is still around the corner, following the emergence of its “FLiRT” variants/strains in some countries.
As this is still a variant of monitoring, close surveillance is now highly being done in Bacolod and the entire country, according to the mayor’s spokesman, Atty. Caesar Distrito.
Distrito said that the mayor and the City Health Office encourages everyone to wear masks when in an enclosed setting, stay home whenever sick, practice good hygiene by covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, washing or sanitizing hands often, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Outdoor gatherings are also encouraged, as well as purification of indoor air, and vaccination for flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19, whenever possible.
Distrito added that Benitez also ordered the CHO to monitor the situation, and prepare the necessary health response plan, regarding the health issue.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier directed all quarantine stations and other concerned agencies to be on heightened alert regarding the COVID-19 FLiRT variant.*
