Four ‘ultra risk areas’ in Bacolod identified

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, head of the Bacolod City’s Inter-Agency Task Force against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), identified four “ultra risk areas.”

Familiaran said the four areas are Rosario Heights Subdivision in Barangay Taculing, Doña Juliana Heights Subdivision also in Barangay Taculing, JR Torres Subdivision in Barangay Singcang-Airport, and Banaue in Barangay Villamonte.

Based on the executive order issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier this week, either one of the homes, puroks, or the whole barangay itself could be sealed off if a resident tested positive for COVID-19.

Familiaran again appealed to the public to remain indoors at all times, especially since the Department of Health in Western Visayas had already confirmed local transmission of the virus in the city.

Earlier, Leonardia authorized barangay officials to identify and seal off “ultra risk areas.”

Barangay officials must place homes and neighborhoods in question under complete lockdown for at least 14 days beginning on a date determined by officials and the CHO.

For subdivisions with fenced houses, the lockdown covers the residence of the concerned patient and the members of their household; while subdivisions where residences are separated by a wall, the lockdown includes homes on both sides and the back of the patient’s home.

In densely-populated areas, the lockdown covers a radius of 50 meters from the patient’s house and all residents within that area.

Police and barangay officials will then make house-to-house visits informing residents of the lockdown status and be provided contact information for the local barangay health emergency response teams, which will facilitate the purchase of necessities requested by the households.

Food assistance will also be provided by the city for low-income lockdown areas.

Familiaran also confirmed that the 62-year-old female Person Under Investigation (PUI) who died Monday and tested positive of COVID -19 is the first fatality of the virus in the city.

The victim is the mother of a 40-year-old male COVID -19 patient who is in critical condition.