A TOTAL of 20 people composed of 15 patients under investigation (PUIs) and five close contacts were tested negative of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Negros Occidental.

Based on the data released yesterday by the provincial government, the PUIs who were tested negative of Covid-19 were from Himamaylan City-3, two each from Kabankalan City, Sipalay City, Sagay City and Binalbagan and one each from Silay City, Escalante City, Talisay City and Manapla.

The five who were also negative of Covid-19 after rapid testing and Polymeraise Chain Reaction (PCR) are from the Municipality of E.B. Magalona who had close contacts with a Covid-19 patient.

With the recent results, Negros Occidental still has only one Covid-19 patient who is from E.B. Magalona.

Meanwhile it is not yet certain if the ECQ in the province will be extended or not.

Charina Magallanes Tan, spokesperson for the province’s Covid-19 Incident Command Center, said Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is yet to meet with the members of the Provincial Board and discuss the matter with them.

Definitely, the decision whether to extend the ECQ or not would be announced by the governor before it ends on April 14, Tan said.

She added that after President Rodrigo Duterte announced of his plan to extend the ECQ in Luzon, they received several queries if it also applies in the province.

Tan also said medical frontliners in Negros Occidental have been subjected to mass testing as part of preventive efforts against the coronavirus disease or Covid-19.

Charina Magallanes Tan said some swab specimens have been sent to the West Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City and they are currently awaiting the results.

The mass testing was made after the provincial government received additional testing kits from the Department of Health.