PERSONS showing Covid-19 symptoms are encouraged to seek consultation at the Bacolod Respiratory Outpatient (BRO) Center, instead of going to the City Health Office (CHO), which will no longer accommodate such patients starting October 26.

This new development in the CHO policy aims to prevent other patients, especially pregnant women who often seek consultation at the CHO's lying-in clinic, from contracting the viral disease.

"In our daily reports, there are always pregnant women who tested positive," said City Administrator Em Ang, executive director and deputy for administration and operations of the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF).

IATF-Visayas chief implementer MGen (Ret) Mel Feliciano said BRO Center offers free Covid-19 swab tests for individuals having Influenza-like illness.

The BRO Center, located inside the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports (Bays) Center at San Juan Street, has been offering and continues to offer free consultation and free Covid-19 swab tests.

The center's regular consultation hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, from Mondays to Fridays.

But according to BRO Center administrator Dr. Edwin Miraflor, they will be extending their consultation hours up to 5 p.m. to accommodate more patients in view of the new CHO policy.

The respiratory center has a triage area, 10 separate consultation rooms, a laboratory collection room, and a mobile X-ray machine.

"With the BRO Center in place, patient traffic will be lesser in emergency rooms and outpatient department in hospitals. The BRO Center will be our catchment area," Ang said. (PR)