By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the Negros Occidental provincial government asked the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to temporarily stop the repatriation of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) until the province can clear its quarantine facilities.
The capitol made the appeal after 35 Negrense LSIs who recently returned to the province tested positive for COVID-19, based on the Department of Health report.
Diaz said the bulk of the LSIs who tested positive were among the more than 1,500 who returned to the province via 2GO vessels.
These were arranged by the IATF-EID in the last four days without prior notice and coordination with the local government.
He said the quarantine facilities have to be cleared first of those who arrived before the latest batch of LSIs.
Diaz said it is fortunate that the release of COVID-19 test results at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital laboratory in Silay City has hastened.
He further said that the provincial government was able to release from quarantine sites more than 3,000 LSIs who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
Diaz said this enabled the province to receive the more than 1,500 who suddenly arrived.
But he lamented that because of the latest arrivals, the quarantine sites are full again.
“That is why we are asking for the temporary suspension of the arrival of more LSIs by 2GO vessels,” Diaz said.
He pointed out that the entry of LSIs “should be according to the capacity of our quarantine facilities.”
