"YOU want to hold fiestas, get vaccinated first."

This was the response of Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II to a question if local government units (LGUs) in the province are now allowed to hold festivals amid the improving Covid-19 situation.

As of the March 14 data from the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas, Covid-19 active cases are now down to 407, and the province is only recording single-digit cases over the past few days.

Despite the improving situation, however, Negros Occidental is expected to remain under Alert Level 2 status, as the province has yet to reach the DOH's required vaccination threshold of above 70 of the 80 percent of the general population and 85 percent senior citizen coverage in order to be downgraded to Alert Level 1 or the "new normal" status.

"We need to cooperate with others, that is why we urge our senior citizens to get vaccinated," Diaz said.

Fully vaccinated senior citizens in the province are now at 55.28 percent, which is still low, he added.