BY MARCHEL P. ESPINA
Business leader Frank Carbon is asking local government units in Negros Occidental to give “extra attention” to public spaces that could be sources of coronavirus disease.
Carbon, chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there is a “big possibility” that the local transmission came from public markets, terminals, banks, business process outsourcing, and offices as these areas are crowded, frequently visited, with no social distancing, and that not everyone wears face masks and shields.
He said he is hoping that local government officials, including the barangay leaders, could give extra attention to these areas as he urged the public to be “extra cautious” when visiting these places.
As of September 2, Bacolod City saw a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases through local transmission with 1,115, while positive cases from locally-stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipino workers were only 229.
Carbon said he agrees with Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon that “we should have a plan, at least near-term, up to December 31.”
He added there is a need to “revisit and compare the progress to our virus containment plan and adjust the plan accordingly if needed.”
In the meantime, he reminded the public to avoid closed and crowded places, events, and gatherings.
Earlier, Buzon announced the suspension of the celebration of masses in Catholic churches in Bacolod City until September 15, in answer to the continuing plea for help from frontliners, given the increasing number of Covid-19 cases and an overwhelmed local health care sector.*
