CADIZ DISTRICT HOSPITAL. The Covid-19 Isolation Facility at the Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. As of Aug. 1, some 15 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to the 30-bed facility. (File photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in Negros Occidental remains manageable despite an increase in infections in recent weeks.
“Our healthcare system is not pressured or overwhelmed by these cases,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said on Wednesday.
The latest report of the Provincial Incident Management Team showed Negros Occidental has 102 active Covid-19 cases as of Aug. 2, lower compared to the 110 cases the province logged on August 1.
At the Cadiz District Hospital, which houses the lone Covid-19 health facility in the province, 15 confirmed cases have been admitted as of Aug. 1, Diaz said.
“Only 15 are confirmed. That’s low,” he added, pointing out that what will determine if the situation is already alarming is the number of people who need hospitalization.
The hospital’s annex, which accommodates Covid-19 positive patients, has a 30-bed capacity.
Currently, 16 patients with symptoms and waiting for test results, are being monitored at the facility.
“We can still add (bed capacity), if needed,” Diaz said.
Located in northern Negros, the health facility now accepts non-Covid-19 patients at the 180-bed main hospital building.
From Aug. 1 to 15, some 12 local government units in Negros Occidental are still under Alert Level 1.
These include the cities of Sagay, Victorias, La Carlota, Cadiz, and Talisay and the municipalities E. B. Magalona, Pulupadan, San Enrique, Candoni, Pontevedra, Valladolid and Ilog,
The rest of the province remains under Alert Level 2.
In July, Negros Occidental has already fully vaccinated at least 1.38 million of its residents against Covid-19, or 66.04 percent of the target 2.09 million vaccinees set by the Department of Health. (PNA)
