Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19-Visayas chief implementer Mel Feliciano on Monday urged individuals showing early symptoms of COVID-19 to seek immediate medical attention.
“Strict monitoring of symptomatic individuals is important for them to avoid developing moderate to severe symptoms that could lead to further hospitalization, and worst – death,” Feliciano said.
Feliciano oversees the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF) in coordination with Task Force head Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Data from the EOC-TF showed that 157 out of 706 individuals with flu-like symptoms tested positive for COVID-19, or a positivity rate of 22.24 percent.
As of Oct 23, 2020, COVID-19 fatality rate in Bacolod already reached 2.54 percent, or an aggregate of 199 hospitalization and home deaths.
“People die — that’s the worst thing about COVID-19. That’s why we have to prevent it. Several home deaths have been recorded due to the absence of, or late, medical intervention,” Feliciano stressed.
Leonardia has ordered the Bacolod Respiratory Outpatient (BRO) Center to extend its free consultation hours from the previous schedule of 8 am to 12 pm, to 8 am to 5 pm, from Mondays to Fridays, beginning Oct 26.
This new schedule adjustment to accommodate the symptomatic COVID-19 patients was confirmed by CHO office-in-charge and BRO administrator Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr.
The BRO Center, located at the BAYS Center (in front of Bacolod City Public Plaza), will serve as the catchment area of patients with early COVID-19 or influenza-like symptoms, according to City Administrator Em Ang, EOC executive director and deputy for administration and operations. (News by Dolly Yasa | Bacolod City Provincial Information Office, photo courtesy of The Daily Guardian)