BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The wearing of face masks is still a must inside the premises of Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, despite now being voluntary both indoors and outdoors, based on issued an executive order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that he will issue an executive order that will still require provincial government employees and those transacting business at the Capitol to wear face masks.
Last month, Negros Occidental logged 10 COVID-19 related deaths, and cases have gone up from two digit numbers to as high as 180.
Asked if his EO will contradict the EO 7 issued by President Marcos relaxing the mask mandate in the country, Lacson replied “I think as a (sic) local autonomy of LGUs (local government units), I think we can do that.”
The Department of Health has been consistent in his stand to encourage wearing masks to protect people from getting COVID-19.
EO 7, however states that wearing of face masks is still mandatory in health care facilities, medical transport vehicles and public transportations.
Lacson, who presided over the 3rd quarter Provincial Health Board meeting at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, noted that COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental is now in the downtrend in the past three days, compared to previous weeks, when it was increasing.
He also reported the bed occupancy for COVID-19 patients at the Cadiz District Hospital is also increasing.*
