BACOLOD CITY – After successfully bringing down the number of COVID-19 cases early this year, this city has experienced yet another wave of infections.
According to Bacolod City Administrator Em Ang, the highest COVID-19 cases in Bacolod happened in August and September 2020 when there were at least 2,600 infections.
The numbers decreased from January to mid-March this year.
In April 2021, Ang said the numbers began to rise again to 1,415.
“This is really a second wave. I hope we do not reach the September 2020 level,” said Ang who is also the executive director of the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
As of Friday, Bacolod had 7,566 COVID-19 cases, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
The city has 867 active COVID-19 cases with 225 deaths.
The EOC, which tracks the utilization rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in seven hospitals here, said 67.31 percent of the COVID-19 beds in Bacolod are being used.
A total of 136 patients are admitted to seven hospitals in Bacolod, 95 of them or 68 percent are residents of the city. The remaining 32 percent came from the municipalities and cities of Negros Occidental.
Ang said the number of Bacolod police officers who tested positive for COVID-19 in April reached 68.
At least 53 inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, also tested positive for COVID-19.
Although the city remained under modified general community quarantine, the most relaxed level of quarantine in the country, Ang reminded residents not to be complacent.
She reiterated the importance of the minimum health protocols such as wearing face masks and practicing physical distancing, among others.
“People must also avoid super-spreader events like mass gatherings to stem person-to-person transmission, Ang said.