DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 26 (PIA) -- A top official of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force-Emerging Infectious Disease (PIATF-EID) is urging the public to avoid from doing non-essential travel in high-risk areas to prevent contracting the COVID-19 Delta variant.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer and PIATF Incident Ground Commander Dr. Liland Estacion gave this reminder during her virtual press conference on Aug. 25.

This came in view of the latest announcement from the Department of Health (DOH) that 14 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) were found positive for the COVID-19 delta variant.

Two of them were logged in Bohol, eight in Cebu province, one in Cebu City, two in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, and one in Siquijor.

The neighboring province of Negros Occidental also logged four cases of Delta variants early this month.

This makes Negros Oriental as the only province in Central Visayas and Negros Island with no recorded COVID-19 Delta case as of Aug. 25.

“Nadunggan man ninyo na ang Negros Oriental na lang ang wala pay Delta virus in Central Visayas, mas maayo unta lessen or limit our movement. Nakita na nato asa ng lugaraha ang naay Delta so we limit our travel to areas where there is a high risk of Delta or high risk for COVID-19. Mas maayo na lang mopondo ta (You have heard that Negros Oriental is the only province in Central Visayas without a case of Delta virus. It would be better if w limit our movement in areas that are high risk for Delta infection. We already know which areas these are. It would be the best if we remain here),” Estacion said.

“Unta kung pwede lang ang atong transaction we can do it online or through calls (or) video calls, do it. Ayaw gud mo travel kung dili importante kay mao ra gyud maka-protect nato from the transmission of infection (If we can do our transactions through online channels, calls or video calls, do it. Refrain from travelling unless it’s essential because it’s the only way we can be protected from the virus),” she added.

The health official also stressed that this is the perfect time to get everyone vaccinated as she urged more NegOrenses to get their vaccine shots when it is their turn to get inoculated.

When asked if there is any chance that the Delta infected COVID-19 patient might have passed by Dumaguete City on the way to Siquijor, Estacion said DOH has assured her that the Delta-infected ROFs have already tested negative from COVID-19 before they were allowed to travel.

“I was told by DOH na kani na tawo is an ROF. Gi-quarantine siya sa Manila. Didto siya nag-positive. Gipadala siya (swab test sample) sa Genome Center.  Pag-recover niya gipapauli na siya sa Siquijor. We were assured by DOH na pagpauli niya na recovered na gud siya (I was told by the DOH that this person is a ROF. The person was quarantined in Manila and tested positive there. The swab samples were then sent to the genome center. The person was allowed to travel after testing negative from the virus. We were assured by DOH that the person already recovered),” Estacion said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)