36 stranded individuals from Negros Occidental have COVID-19

BACOLOD CITY — At least 35 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Negros Occidental and one Bacolodnon tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Of the new cases, five are from Sagay City; three each from Hinigaran town, Bago City, Victorias City, and Calatrava; two each from Murcia, Cadiz City, Kabankalan City, Silay City, and Moises Padilla; and one each from Manapla, Binalbagan, Isabela, La Castellana, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, San Carlos City, and Escalante City.

Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the LSIs who tested positive were part of the more than 1,500 who returned to the province on 2GO vessels arranged by the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in the last four days without prior notice and coordination.

The Negros Occidental provincial government has asked the IATF to suspend the arrival of LSIs by 2GO vessels until the province could clear its quarantine facilities.

During the weekend, the provincial government released more than 3,000 LSIs who tested negative from quarantine sites, Diaz said.

That enabled the province to absorb the more than 1,500 who suddenly arrived in the province.

“The entry of LSIs should be according to the capacity of our quarantine facilities,” he said.

LZB