Bacolod residents urged not to be complacent despite drop in COVID-19 cases

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia again reminded residents today to remain vigilant even as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the city have been decreasing in the past days.

“We should not be complacent just because our numbers have gone down. Our Covid-19 historical sketch shows that our cases go up and down. Once the increase starts, it seems could not be stopped, and then cases surge. We should not allow it to happen,” the mayor said in an interview.

Leonardia emphasized that another surge can be prevented only when everyone is “conscious and aware” of not becoming a spreader of the virus.

He cited the situation of Cebu, which is now facing another surge in Covid-19 cases after its experience served as a model for Bacolod last year in lowering local transmission.

Leonardia said the latest data showed the improving situation in Bacolod, based on the real-time figures of only 885 active cases as of August 2, 2021, about 50 percent occupancy of Covid-19 beds in hospitals, and closure of at least three quarantine or isolation facilities based in schools.

The city, which is still under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions (GCQ-HR) until August 15, has recorded a total of 15,412 cases, including 1,066 active cases; 13,983 recoveries; and 363 deaths as of August 2, data of the Department of Health-Western Visayas (DOH-6).

Moreover, Leonardia said it is heartening that there is an increasing number of residents willing to be inoculated. As of Aug. 2, almost 150,000 individuals have already received either the first or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The city government has already tapped five shopping malls as vaccination sites, including the latest two – CityMall Mandalagan and CityMall Goldenfield.

Vaccination is ongoing daily at the SMX Convention Center, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, and Robinsons Place Bacolod as well in several barangay gymnasiums and school clusters.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)