Bacolod now has Omicron variant case

Bacolod City now has its first case of the highly-transmissible Omicron virant of Covid-19.

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) through its Executive Director, Em Ang confirmed that the city has recorded its first case of Omicron variant.

According to Ang, the patient is a 38-year-old male cruise ship crew, who is now placed in isolation while awaiting the result of his RT-PCR test.

Based on the patient’s travel history, he arrived last December 15 in Metro Manila from Miami, Florida, USA.

The patient was immediately brought to a quarantine hotel in Manila and underwent RT-PCR test on December 19.

He later got his result on December 20, during which he turned out positive for COVID-19, although he was reported to be asymptomatic.

The patient completed his quarantine period and traveled to Bacolod last December 31 and was again placed in a quarantine hotel in the city.

On January 1, the patient’s genome sequencing result was released and it was confirmed that he had the Omicron variant.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical services of the Bacolod City EOC, meanwhile, assured the public that the patient had never gotten out of the quarantine hotel in the city.

Sorongon is also urging everyone to get vaccinated, while those who have already completed their vaccination should get a booster shot.

He also advised the public not to panic and continue following the minimum health protocols such as proper wearing of face masks, regular hand washing or sanitizing, and observing physical distancing.

The EOC is also continuing its monitoring as the Department of Health (DOH) is now expecting a surge in COVID-19 cases following the Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday.* (DGB)