BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While he is not discouraging travelling during the Holy Week, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on them yesterday to be mindful of their activities by not lowering their vigilance and observing health protocols, as Covid 19 cases in the province are rising.
“To all Negrenses, please be reminded that the number of Covid-19 cases in the country are increasing by the hour, that we in the provincial government are doing everything to contain its spread in our province,” he said.
“Thus, I am urging everyone, especially those who are travelling, to be mindful of their actions and practice the mandated health protocols with purposeful vigilance, not with foolhardly efforts meant to comply in form, but in substance,” Lacson said.
As of March 29, Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, had a total of 518 Covid-19 cases, records of the Provincial Incident Management Team and Department of Health regional office 6, showed.
Lacson reminded Negrenses that “people are still carriers of the Covid 19 virus, hence, let us use our highest form of discretion and caution in our actions and conduct”.
Lacson and 16 other Capitol employees recently tested negative for Covid-19, after being exposed to a person infected by the virus.
The four-day working break from Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday are usually being spent by families in tourist destination areas.
“Remember that the nature of the virus and the mode of its transmission remain the same,” Lacson reminded Negrenses.
He suggested that hearing of Holy Week masses should be done online, to minimize people going to the Church.
While spacing is being observed inside churches, Lacson said the problem arises, when people, upon going out of church, mingle with each other.*