Negros Oriental reports another COVID-19 surge

DUMAGUETE CITY—Negros Oriental is seeing another spike in COVID-19 cases in the past three days.

Since Monday (April 5), the province reported 83 new coronavirus infections, 52 recoveries and one death.

Among those who contracted the virus were a university professor from Dumaguete, children between one and three-years-old, a six-month-old baby and individuals who were found infected following tests required for travel.

Amlan town located north of this city also reported a spike of new COVID-19 cases. Of the 21 people who tested positive in the town, 20 were considered to have been infected through local transmission and had no history of travel outside Negros Oriental.

Many of the new cases were also reported in Dumaguete City with 26 new infections.

Dr. Liland Estacion, ground commander of the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), also confirmed the province’s latest death, a 65-year-old man from Bonawon, Siaton, who died on Maundy Thursday (April 1). He had been tested the same day he died.

Results of the tests came back positive on April 5 or four days after the man died, raising the province’s COVID-19 death toll to 59.

As of April 7, Negros Oriental has a total of 2,034 cases. Of these, only 128 are active and currently under treatment or quarantine.

The provincial government also reported that 6,043 health care and front line workers had already received their first doses of coronavirus vaccines.

At least 90 percent of Coronavac and AstraZeneca vaccines had been administered throughout the province.

The provincial government also noted that 283 health care workers have been fully vaccinated against the disease after receiving their second and final doses this week.

The Dumaguete City government has launched an online registration campaign for those willing to be vaccinated against SARS Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Dr. Maria Sarah Talla, city health officer, earlier said that if everything goes as planned, vaccination for senior citizens in the city may begin by the second quarter of 2021.

On the list of vaccination priority, senior citizens and individuals with pre-existing conditions are next in line for vaccination after health workers but this depends still on availability of supply.

TSB