BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental is bracing for a spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in December following the relaxation of health protocols such as mask wearing and easing of travel restrictions particularly for foreigners.
According to provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, although cases are expected to increase in the coming weeks, hospital utilization remains low so far.
Diaz noted that most of the COVID-19 patients confined at the Cadiz District Hospital (CDH) are unvaccinated.
CDH is the province’s designated COVID treatment facility.
As of Nov. 12, 44 confirmed positive cases were admitted at CDH, while 27 were suspected cases, for a total of 71.
Occupancy rate at CDH is at 79.78 percent, while hospitals in Bacolod City, which are also treating patients for COVID-19, have a 20 percent occupancy rate.
As of Nov. 13, Negros Occidental has a total of 264 active COVID-19 cases./PN
