Bacolod City – The highly-urbanized Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, remains under COVID-19 Alert Level 1, from March 16 to 31, according to acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar.
Included in the 48 areas placed under Alert Level 1 in Western Visayas, as approved by the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, are Iloilo City, provinces of Aklan, Capiz and Guimaras.
Andanar said the rest of the country, including Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, will remain under Alert Level 2.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the Alert Level 1 status for Bacolod augurs well with the city government’s economic recovery plan under the new normal.
“Our gold medal streak continues. We are entering the new normal. It doesn’t mean, however, that the virus is gone. COVID is still here and we must always be on our guard,” Leonardia said.
Under Alert Level 1, movement of persons regardless of age and comorbidities is allowed, but with restrictions on crowded and closed spaces and close contact (3Cs) settings.
The operations of private establishments and government agencies are likewise allowed at full on-site capacity, subject to minimum public health standards.
The IATF-EID is also still requiring the wearing of well-fitted face masks, except when eating and drinking; participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained; and practicing outdoor sports or exercise activities where physical distance can still be observed.
People aged 18 and above must present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments like churches, restaurants, fitness studios and gyms, indoor cinemas, meetings and exhibition venues, wedding receptions, birthday parties, hotels and other accommodation establishments, and venues for election-related events.
Proof of full vaccination is also required for those aged at least 18 years, before entry in confined spaces with poor ventilation; crowded places with no physical distancing; and close-contact settings with face-to-face interaction.
ZERO CASES ANEW
After logging zero COVID-19 infections last March 12, Bacolod City registered no infections anew Monday, based on real-time data from the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force.
Being the third time this year and the fourth since 2021 that Bacolod reported zero COVID-19 cases for the day, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia expressed elation over this development, saying it speaks very well of the hardwork of the EOC-TF and the compliance of Bacolodnons to minimum health protocols.
Bacolod first booked zero COVID cases on March 10, 2021. The EOC also reported zero caseson February 21, 2022 and March 12, 2022.
Leonardia attributed the successful campaign against the health crisis to the leadership of local IATF chair and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, the EOC and its army of vaccination volunteers.
At the same time, the mayor reminded residents to remain vigilant and reiterated his call to “live with the virus and adjust to it accordingly and cautiously,” under the new normal. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star with report from Philippine News Agency, photo courtesy of Bacolod City Public Information Office)