DUMAGUETE CITY—At least five doctors had tested positive for SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Among them was a couple who works in private hospitals in Dumaguete City, which is now considered to be the province’s COVID-19 epicenter.
The five doctors had been confined and are being treated in hospitals.
On Thursday (Dec. 17), at least 17 new cases were recorded in Dumaguete City, Tanjay City and the towns of Siaton, Amlan, Sibulan and Manjuyod, according to Dr. Liland Estacion, provincial Inter-Agency Task Force ground commander.
Negros Oriental currently has recorded close to 800 COVID-19 cases. At least 52 of these involved residents of Dumaguete City.
Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Remollo reminded residents about heeding health protocol even in their homes.
He also warned against parties, reunions, Christmas gatherings which could spread the virus.
But although there’s a surge in cases in Dumaguete, the city government said there wouldn’t be citywide lockdowns as these would be detrimental to the local economy.
The city government instead set up a quarantine control point system, where the entry and exit of people would be regulated through several checkpoints deployed around the city’s borders.