By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he expects an increase in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 in the province during the Holidays.
The governor said this could be due to the expected influx of people, especially those coming home to spend Christmas and New Year with their respective families.
Lacson said “we are anticipating an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases during the Yuletide celebration, with the influx of people returning to the province.”
“I hope if there is some spike, it will not be so big. We are just hoping for the best,” he added.
The governor said they cannot refuse Negrenses who return to their homes to spend the holidays with their families.
Earlier, Lason has approved the request of airline companies to resume their Bacolod-Cebu-Bacolod and Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights this month, except on Dec. 24 and 25, and Dec. 31.
Shipping companies were also allowed to transport limited number of Bacolod-bound passengers.
The governor advised returning Negrenses to arrive three days early if they want to spend their Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with their families, because they will be swabbed and the result will be out in three days.
“If they are negative, they will be allowed to go home immediately. If positive, they will go directly to quarantine healing centers,” Lacson said.
He also admitted that the number of COVID cases in Negros Occidental is on a see-saw trend.
“I hope we can really keep it low,” Lacson said.
He said that the province has been under the Modified General Community Quarantine status since June 2020.
As of Dec. 5, Negros Occidental has 5,888 confirmed cases, which is still the highest in the region. Local cases numbered to 4,789, while recoveries totaled 4,804, and deaths at 131.
It has also the highest active cases in the region with 953.
