BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
The public is being urged to follow strict health protocols and to do their share in the fight versus COVID-19 to prevent Bacolod City and Negros Occidental from returning to Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are currently under Modified General Community Quarantine, which has allowed the resumption of business activities.
The public must do their share to help because a return to ECQ will hasten the hunger problem and more people will lose their jobs, Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said yesterday.
Dr. Mako Salvador, president of the Philippine College of Physicians-Negros Occidental chapter, said they did not send a letter to the city government asking for the reimposition of ECQ.
“We are appealing more to the public to make all necessary efforts and be consistent in maintaining health standards,” he said, citing mask wearing, distancing, only going out if necessary, and disinfection.
The public is being urged to adopt an “ECQ mindset” in a way, he said.
He said they understand that quarantine status is dependent on national Inter Agency Task Force and “should the government decide to increase our level from MGCQ to GCQ or higher then we support it.”
But he also said that fears that a return to a stricter quarantine level would have dire effects on the economy is a “very valid concern for workers and businesses.”
“We’re asking to closely monitor the increasing cases of local transmissions and health care workers afflicted and re-evaluate the risk status. We wouldn’t want our hospitals to be filled beyond capacity,” he added.*
