Negros Occ. identifies ‘hot zones’ in 18 areas

The usually busy intersection of Burgos Extension-Circumferential Road in Bacolod City is almost empty on the first day of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, March 30, 2020, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. (Dolly Yasa)

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday that they have identified “hot zones” in 18 areas of the province as part of the war against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Lacson said “hot zones” are streets and barangays with one positive COVID-19 patient, 1 Person Under Investigation (PUI), or 5 Persons Under Monitoring (PUM).

PUI is a person with signs and symptoms and have travel history to infected area while PUMs are asymptomatic and have travel history to an infected area or exposure to a positive case.

Lacson said identifying hot zones is part of their stringent measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The governor also confirmed that Toboso town is on a 7-day lockdown from March 30 – April 5, 2020.

Negros Occidental is under enhanced community quarantine following the confirmation of one COVID-19 case in the province.

Bacolod City is also under ECQ after it recorded five positive cases.