BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has stopped the entry of individuals returning to the province after being stranded in virus hot spot Cebu to stop the transmission of SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
At a press conference early on Wednesday (June 24), Lacson said nearly half of all COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental was from Cebu.
The governor asked the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Diseases to order a travel ban for the entire province of Cebu.
He said he wanted natives of Negros Occidental, who hd been stranded in Cebu, to take coronavirus tests before returning.
“We have to do this, not only because our quarantine facilities are overwhelmed, but as much as possible, we don’t like to be receiving positive cases,” said Lacson.
“It’s very clear the epicenter is in Cebu. Precisely, the President instructed Secretary (Roy) Cimatu to take care of the situation in Cebu,” Lacson said.
The governor expressed hope that the IATF would approve his request.