BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The new COVID-19 isolation facility at the Cadiz District Hospital annex building is now ready to accommodate virus-infected patients.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection, yesterday led the inauguration of the 98-bed isolation facility, costing the provincial government P32 million.
At present, CDH is treating 124 COVID-19 infected persons, and some of them are expected to transfer to the annex building to decongest the main hospital, Lacson said.
With the operationalization of its annex building, which was formerly the Nursing school building of the Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, he also said that CDH may now accommodate 193 patients.
Hopefully, we may use it soon to accommodate normal cases, after COVID, Lacson added.
But records of the Provincial Incident Management Team show that COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental gone up to 2,903, with six deaths, as of January 28.
The (Omicron) virus right now is milder but it is more contagious, Lacson said.
He raised the possibility of using the Valladolid District Hospital and Valeriano Gatuslao Memorial Hospital in Himamaylan City to accommodate more COVID-19 patients if there is a need.
Lacson said that Negros Occidental cannot afford to be complacent, and the operation of the isolation facility is proof of the provincial government’s continued vigilance and commitment to protect and provide for the needs of Negrenses.
Lacson was joined by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Hospital Operations Division chief Dr. Girlie Pinongan, CDH chief Dr. Josephine Pahamtang, Board Member Samson Mirhan and Cadiz City Councilor Vincent Escalante, during the inauguration rites.*
