Health protocols for travelers effective in curbing COVID-19

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Provincial Incident Management Team head Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian said the implementation of health protocols for arriving passengers at the airport and seaports has been effective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus 2019 or Covid-19.

Caelian said arriving passengers at the Bacolod-Silay Airport and Bredco Port were required by the provincial government to undergo swab testing and were only released after the release of test results.

Persons who tested positive immediately were placed under quarantine.

Caelian said the provincial government not only managed to save resources for contract tracing, but also limit or contain the spread of the virus at the airport and seaport.

From February 11-16, Caelian said 20 locally stranded individuals and authorized persons outside residence, who arrived in Negros Occidental by air and sea, tested positive for Covid-19.

He noted a decline in the number of passengers testing positive.

Both Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are under modified general community quarantine.

The PIMT report also showed that only 41 persons are in quarantine facilities in Cadiz, Silay, EB Magalona, and Murcia. The three facilities can accommodate a total of 628 persons.

Meanwhile, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, encouraged local government units, especially the cities, to purchase biomedical refrigerators for the vaccines that are coming.

Tumimbang also called on LGUs to identify the vaccination sites, adding that they will be difficult to manage if there are many.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier assured LGUs, especially lower-class municipalities, of the availment of Covid-19 vaccines.

He said the three million doses he asked from the national government is enough to cover “everybody”, except those in the zero to 18 age group.

Tumimbang, who discussed with Lacson and Caelian the plans and actions for the vaccination of Negrenses, said that the provincial government will rent refrigerated vehicles, and buy cold transport boxes, for the transport of vaccines to the 31 LGUs.