Negros Oriental docs ask to revert to ECQ amid spike in COVID-19 cases

DUMAGUETE CITY — Two medical societies in Negros Oriental are urging the government to put the province under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases.

In two separate statements, the Negros Oriental Medical Society (NOMS) and the Philippine College of Physicians-Negros Oriental chapter (PCP-Negros Oriental chapter) said the government and the public needed to do something before the local healthcare collapsed.

“We know that there is this rapid rise in cases more than the hospitals can handle. We know that we are losing precious lives. We know that we have so many critically ill and not enough resources. We only know the value of saving a life,” the NOMS said.

“Give us time to reset,” it added.

NOMS said residents needed to stop parties and gatherings as it had been noted that many gatherings had been taking place in Negros Oriental over the last few months.

For its part, the PCP-Negros Oriental chapter said the past weeks had overwhelmed those in the healthcare sector in Negros Oriental.

The group said Negros Oriental’s average daily attack rate was currently at 8.12 or above the critical level while hospital bed occupancy was near 100% –both qualifiers for the call of a higher form of quarantine.

“We are asking our local government to take action on a faster rollout of vaccinations, a better implementation of curfews and discipline. We are calling on our local businesses to enforce stricter quarantine rules and have a heightened sense of social responsibility. We are pleading to our fellow Negrenses to be more cognizant of health practices and safety protocols,” PCP-Negros Oriental said.

“We need to be one in the battle against COVID-19. We need to listen to each other. Our healthcare system is screaming and we hope you heed the call,” the group added.

Negros Oriental, which is currently under the most relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), has 709 active coronavirus infections, the highest since the pandemic began in 2020.

Last May 21, the province reported an all-time high of 204 new infections.

Dumaguete City remained the province’s COVID-19 epicenter with 184 active cases, followed by Sibulan town, 68; Bais City, 51; Tanjay City, 49; Bacong, 45; and Santa Catalina, 40.

At least three hospitals in Negros Oriental—the state-funded Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, the ACE Dumaguete Doctors Hospital, and the Holy Child Hospital—have reached full capacity as of May 23.

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo was among those who got infected with the virus over the weekend. He said he underwent swab testing in compliance with a requirement for attending the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) meeting in this city with President Duterte on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, test results showed that Remollo was positive for COVID-19.

“I’m asymptomatic and have isolated myself,” he said.

Remollo said the city sent a representative to the NPOC meeting.

“Regular functions of government will continue in my physical absence as I will still be working while in isolation. I will also be continually abreast of the daily affairs of the city,” he said.

EDV