RISING CASES. The number of Covid-19 cases in Negros Oriental has quadrupled as of July 19, 2022, according to a health official in the province. The Provincial Health Office is urging people to get vaccinated and avail of boosters as a protection against the coronavirus. (PNA file photo)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Negros Oriental has quadrupled over the past weeks, a provincial health official here said on Tuesday.
Dr. Liland Estacion, Assistant Provincial Health Officer, told the Philippine News Agency the situation is becoming a concern as many people still refuse to have themselves vaccinated against Covid-19.
“The presence of Covid-19 here is real, this is not a joke, and the cases continue to rise even if they are just in small numbers,” she said in mixed English and Cebuano.
As of July 18, Estacion said her office recorded a total of 41 active Covid-19 cases. She believes there are more infections than the reported number due to undocumented cases, with some people opting for self-testing.
The province’s total caseload since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 is 23,670 with 743 deaths, she noted.
Last June 21, Estacion reported only eight new active cases, describing the slow climb since then as a “disaster” waiting to happen if people let their guards down.
She appealed to the people to continue observing the basic health protocols, specifically the wearing of masks, and avoiding large crowds.
“The new sub-variant of the Omicron poses to be of greater and graver health threat, especially to those unvaccinated individuals, because of existing reports of its higher fatality rate compared to its predecessors,” she said.
Estacion also reiterated her call to the public to get vaccinated and avail of the booster shots for added protection while vaccines are still available.
As antigen test kits for Covid-19 are readily available at local pharmacies for home testing, she urged those who test positive for the virus to coordinate with local health authorities for proper documentation.
Negros Oriental remains under Alert Level 2 while its capital, Dumaguete City, and a few other towns, are under Alert Level 1 status. (PNA)
