DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 7 (PIA) -- Amid the looming threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the provincial government here will continue to strengthen the implementation of existing measures such as tightening border controls, detection of cases, intensifying minimum public health standards, and massive vaccination.

In support of the mandate from the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) against COVID-19 to make vaccination mandatory among workers, the Negros Oriental provincial government has directed unvaccinated employees to put in writing their explanation or reasons why they have not availed of the vaccination.

A memorandum order signed by Gov. Roel Degamo directed all department heads to submit an inventory of all employees indicating their vaccination status.

Eligible employees who remain unvaccinated may not be barred from working but will be required to undergo antigen tests at their own expense.

Meanwhile, during a Provincial Task Force Against COVID-19 meeting, Provincial Contract Tracer Team Leader Dondee Señeres showed that the province's hospital occupancy of 19% rate is below critical level.

However, Señeres warned the public not to be complacent after the holiday gatherings, as COVID-19 cases are expected to rise anytime this week.

Señeres  urged the remaining 35.2% of the population who have not yet been vaccinated to get inoculated now so that the province would be able to achieved the 70% herd immunity.

As of Jan. 3, the province has vaccinated 345,345 individuals or 34.8% of the total target of 908,939 for the second dose, including the one-shot Janssen vaccine.

Negros Oriental now has 19,768 COVID-19 cases with 19,080 recoveries, 664 mortalities, and 24 active cases as of Jan. 3.

In the same meeting, the task force agreed to call the attention of Vallacar Transit Ceres Bus Inc. and commercial vans fully loaded of passengers who are not following the health protocols. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)