Negros Occidental, Bacolod still high risk for COVID-19, but no longer ‘critical’

BACOLOD CITY—The Department of Health (DOH) has downgraded the COVID-19 risk classification of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City from critical to high.

The DOH, in its Jan. 31 report, said the two-week growth rate of Bacolod was 185 percent, while Negros Occidental’s was 187 percent.

Bacolod previously had a two-week growth rate of 234 percent, while Negros Occidental was 224 percent.

But the hospital care utilization of Bacolod City increased to 52.63 percent, and 67.05 percent for Negros Occidental, the DOH reported.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental dropped to two digits on Tuesday, recording only 89 new cases.

Bacolod’s COVID-19 cases were also down to 76 on Tuesday.

Omicron

Meanwhile, at least 28 new COVID-19 Omicron variants have been detected in the province and city.

“This explains the fourth surge of COVID-19 cases we are experiencing,” Dr. Chris Sorongon, Bacolod Emergency Operations Center deputy, said.

The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) report confirming 21 Omicron cases in Bacolod was released Tuesday, but the patients have since recovered because their swab samples were taken from Jan. 7 to 12.

Of the 21 Omicron cases in Bacolod, eight were males and 13 females. Two were elderly, and 19 were between 24 to 56 years old.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the PGC detected seven Omicron variant cases in six local governments in Negros Occidental.

All seven have since recovered, said Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.

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