BACOLOD City – The city government begins today a mass testing of residents for possible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said this proactive measure is part of the “O-Plan: One-Time, Big-Time”, a joint program with the provincial government of Negros Occidental and four other local government units (LGUs).
A total 5,000 COVID-19 tests will be conducted in Bacolod City from Aug. 28 to 29 and another 5,000 in Bago, Silay and Talisay cities and Murcia town from Aug. 30 to 31.
While health authorities conduct mass testing, Leonardia – through Executive Order No. 55 – enforced a lockdown in the city dubbed “time-out no movement period.” Everyone is required to stay home. Only those who will be granted special exemptions can move around, and exit and enter the city.
Also, all public markets in this city will be off limits to the public from Aug. 28 to 30.
Leonardia, however, made it clear that the “movement of essential goods and cargoes will remain unhampered.
Businesses delivering essential needs are also exempted, he said.
“This is to restrict movement from and into the neighboring LGUs of Bago City, Talisay City, Silay City and Murcia, which are also participating in the mass testing program,” Leonardia said.
There will be border checkpoints to enforce travel restriction.
Swab samples collected during the mass testing will be processed in five molecular bio-laboratories, including four in Bacolod and one in Negros Occidental, and will be released within 24 hours, according to Negros Occidental Provincial Economic Affairs consultant Alfredo Benitez.
In Bacolod City, the COVID-19 laboratories are hosted by the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, The Doctors’ Hospital, Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital, and the Philippine Red Cross Bacolod City-Negros Occidental Chapter.
Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Michael Lloyd Dino, assured that any overflow in the swab specimens that cannot be handled by laboratories in Bacolod can be tested in Cebu, which he will facilitate./PN
