WITH some hospitals in Negros Occidental reaching their maximum capacity on the allocated beds for patients with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and other medical cases, Provincial Administrator lawyer Rayfrando Diaz II directed all hospital chiefs in the province to impose the “no referral, no admission” policy effective Wednesday, September 15, 2021.

Diaz, who is also the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) action officer, also directed Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital acting chief of hospital, Dr. Girlie Pinonggan, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernel Tumimbang to ensure that all referrals must pass through the One Hospital Command System.

He said walk-ins and overcrowding at the triage and emergency rooms at the various hospitals in the province should be avoided to protect the overwhelmed medical workforce.

Meanwhile, deaths caused by Covid-19 in Negros Occidental hit a record high as indicated in the records of the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT).

On Wednesday alone, 26 deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of mortalities due to the disease to 104 for September, PIMT head Zeaphard Caelian said.

Active Covid-19 cases in Negros Occidental stood at 2,354 as of Thursday, September 16.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said although it is not yet confirmed by the Department of Health, the surge in cases in the province could be attributed to the presence of the Covid-19 Delta variant.

Lacson reiterated his reminder to the Negrenses to be careful and have themselves vaccinated against the deadly disease.