BACOLOD CITY –– At least 17 persons from Negros Occidental, 12 of whom are locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Department of Health said the LSIs and OFWs were immediately isolated in a quarantine facility.
Of the 12 LSIs, three are from Sagay City, and one each from the towns of La Castellana, San Enrique, Calatrava, Hinoba-an, Binalbagan, Talisay City, Himamaylan City, Silay City, and Sipalay City.
The three COVID-19 positive OFWs are from Calatrava, Bago City, and Pulupandan.
Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the new cases also involve a 45-year-old male from Silay City who is a member of the city’s disaster team.
The other patient is a 34-year-old male nurse from Talisay City, who is in a hospital.
Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares said the nurse assisted an LSI dialysis patient at a Bacolod hospital.
The nurse developed COVID-19 symptoms and is confined at a Bacolod hospital.
Lizares said the nurse’s infection could be considered a local transmission of the virus since his exposure was with an LSI.