DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 29 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental will be able to sustain the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases if residents would continue to practice health protocols. 

Assistant Provincial Health Officer and Provincial Inter-Agency - Task Force Emerging Infectious Disease (PIATF-EID) Incident Commander Dr. Liland Estacion emphasized this during her virtual press conference on July 28.

“If everybody will cooperate sa ato minimum health protocols ug ato i-strengthen ang atong border controls, that is the only way na makontrol nato ang atong transmission (If everybody will cooperate and practice minimum health protocols and strengthen our border controls, that is the only way we can control the tansmission),” Estacion said.

Since the start of the week, the province saw a decrease on COVID-19 cases with less than 100 cases reported daily.

On July 26, active COVID-19 cases in the province was at 601 with 44 new cases.

On July 27, the cases dipped to 577 with 46 new cases logged in the province on that day.

On July 28, Estacion reported 29 additional cases with the total number of active cases continuing to drop to 568.

“It's every individual’s responsibility nga dili modaghan ang atong virus. Di ta magsalig sa gobyerno. Di ta magsalig sa pulis. Di ta magsalig sa health marshals. Self-discipline ang importante (It’s every individual’s responsibility to prevent the transmission of the virus. Let’s not depend solely on the government, police, and health marshals. Self-discipline is important),” Estacion added.

The health official also appealed to travelers coming to Negros Oriental to follow the PIATF’s travel protocols especially in view of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

PIATF-EID Chairperson and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo recently signed an executive order directing completely vaccinated travelers bound for the province to present their vaccination cards and a negative (non-reactive) rapid antigen test upon entry in the province’s borders.

On the other hand, unvaccinated travelers are required to present a negative RT PCR (oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal only) and a Travel Coordination Permit (TCP) which can be obtained when a traveler enrolls in the government’s S-PASS system upon arrival in the province’s borders.

Degamo has also designated Assistant Provincial Administrator Atty. Froilan Joseph Pinili as head of the province’s border control units.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental’s total number of COVID-19 cases is now at 10,379 with 586 active cases, 9,624 recoveries, and 205 persons who died due to COVID-19 related illness.

The National IATF has placed Negors Oriental under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions until Aug. 15, 2021. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)