BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental is placing four local government units (LGUs) under “granular lockdown” as part of the four-day “timeout weekend.”
Lacson in his Aug. 27 Executive Order No. 20-42 identified the four areas as Murcia town and the cities of Bago, Talisay and Silay.
The lockdown will begin on Aug. 30 to 31. There will be no province-wide lockdown, Lacson clarified.
During the period, the provincial government will conduct mass testing of at least 5,000 individuals.
The other 5,000 will come from Bacolod City which is also observing a “timeout” from Aug. 28 to 29.
Lacson said those who would test positive for COVID-19 will be transported to quarantine facilities designated by both the provincial and city governments.
“Those positive for the virus but have fallen seriously ill will be sent to the hospital for treatment,” he added.
The governor explained that there won’t be a problem even if they don’t hit the targeted test of 10,000 individuals.
The most important objective of the mass testing, he said, is to help LGUs identify those who must undergo swabbing.
Lacson made it clear that public transportation will continue with their normal operations.
He, however, discouraged outside residents from traveling.
Earlier, former Negros Occidental 3rd District congressman and now provincial government consultant Alfredo Benitez said the “timeout weekend” would give way to the mass testing of 10,000 symptomatic individuals for COVID-19 in the five LGUs.
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.
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./PN
