Granular lockdown in Negros Oriental

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has recommended the imposition of granular lockdown in barangays where COVID-19 cases are high.

Negros Oriental is among the areas placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until June 30 amid a surge in cases.

The capital of the province, Dumaguete City, was identified as an ”area of most serious concern” outside of the National Capital Region Plus by the OCTA Research Group after it recorded growth and average daily attack rates of 129 and 69.85 percent, respectively, for one week.

A two-week ban on non-essential travel from Negros Oriental to Negros Occidental took effect yesterday.

Negros Occidental has been classified as low-risk for COVID-19 while Bacolod City is at high-risk.

The Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas said Negros Occidental logged 2,379 active cases as of Monday while Bacolod recorded 1,949.

In Zamboanga peninsula, which also remains under MECQ, the DOH said hospital occupanccy is either at high-risk or critical level due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Zamboanga del Norte recorded a hospital utilization rate of 72.7 percent, which is considered high-risk,while its intensive care units are at critical level.

Zamboanga del Sur’s hospital bed occupancy has reached 75 percent.

As of June 12, Zamboanga del Norte logged 1,897 active cases; Zamboanga del Sur, 1,726; Zamboanga City, 769; Zamboanga Sibugay, 585, and Isabela City, 113.

Meanwhile, Mayors Floro Gandam of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and Florentino Gonzaga of Magpet, North Cotabato tested positive for COVID-19.

Gandam said he is asymptomatic and is in an isolation facility.

Gonzaga’s relatives said the mayor is confined in a hospital.