THE Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol will be under lockdown from August 12 to August 16, 2020, as the number of Covid-19 positive cases among its employees has been increasing.

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, recommended the temporary closure of the Capitol.

"The current surge of Covid-19 infections in the Provincial Capitol and, likewise, in our hospitals, especially in TLJPH (Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital) where our molecular lab is situated, has compelled us to recommend a lockdown of the Provincial Capitol for five days starting August 12 to 16, 2020," Tumimbang said.

He said that within the Capitol, many departments have been affected by the current pandemic.

Tumimbang added that the SP/Vice Governor's Office was compromised three times. The Provincial Vet Office, Accounting Office, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, Provincial Health Office (PHO), Public Information Office (PIO) and Tourism Office were also compromised.

"By locking down the Capitol for five days, we might be able to stop the transmission within the Capitol. Our frontliners, the PHO, the PDRRMO (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office), and the command center will still be functional to monitor our provincial Covid concern. Our hospitals are still going to function at the utmost that we can manage," he said.

"During the lockdown, we are implementing strict home quarantine for all provincial government employees," Tumimbang added.

Provincial government offices with Covid-19 positive cases are PHO (1); PDRRMO (1); PIO (1); SP (1); ET (1); BAC (1). Also affected are a watchman assigned at the SP lobby; a TLJPH admin staff member and three TLJPH doctors.