NEGROS Occidental is still free from Delta variant of Covid-19 and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded everyone to continue practicing the minimum health protocols.
"As I said, if ever we will never be ready enough. We just really hope we can prevent it, that's why we are appealing to the people to observe minimum health protocols such as wearing of face mask and face shield, observe physical distancing and avoid leisure travel," Lacson said.
He said the bed capacity of government hospitals in the province is good enough.
The governor made the emphasis even if the province is still free from Delta variant of Covid-19.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz assured Tuesday, August 3, that Negros Occidental remains free of the Delta variant of Covid-19, even though neighboring provinces are now experiencing a rapid surge.
Diaz said they are now employing several restrictions in order to prevent the entry of the Delta variant, such as requiring those entering the province to submit a negative RT-PCR test.
Although Negros Occidental only reported the Alpha and Beta variants of Covid-19, Diaz said preparations are now being made in case the Delta variant enters and causes a new surge.
According to Diaz, the oxygen plant of the province located near the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City is producing 70 oxygen tanks a day, or roughly an equal to more than 1,540 per month.
At present, even with the province still having more than a thousand active cases, the use of oxygen among the Provincial Government-owned hospitals remain normal.
Diaz said hospitals in the province consumes at least 1,200 oxygen tanks per month, and with the present production capacity, there is at least a buffer of 340 tanks.
"We are in safe place, so far with regard to oxygen tanks are concerned," Diaz said.
However, with the recent procurement of high flow oxygen cannula, Diaz pointed out the recently acquired machines consumes more oxygen tanks.
Because of this, Diaz said they have reached out to the Provincial Engineer's Office (PEO) on how they could improve and upgrade the efficiency of the province's oxygen plant in order to increase production.
He even revealed that the province's oxygen plant only restarted operations last year after seating idle for one year, and they even had to ask the PEO to send mechanical engineers to the plant in order to troubleshoot the machinery and what parts are needed in order to fix the ones that are broken.
"We are stepping up production and hopefully we can produce more kung magsaka man gid ang mga kaso," Diaz added.
In case demand further increases, Diaz said the province has some suppliers who will be able to cover for the province's oxygen needs.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas has tagged the Province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City as low-risk for Covid-19.
In a virtual presser hosted by the DOH on Monday afternoon, August 2, they reported that the average daily attack rate in Bacolod City per 100,000 population has dropped to 6.93 percent for the second half of July.
The attack rate has dropped by half compared to the first half of July which saw a 13.92 percent average daily attack rate.
Negros Occidental also remained low risk with a 2.11 percent daily attack rate for the second week of July, compared to 3.43 percent in the first half of the same month.
For Western Visayas, Aklan is tagged as high risk, while Antique and Iloilo City are tagged moderate risk.
Also tagged as low risk are the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.
At present, Negros Occidental is currently under a general community quarantine (GCQ) until August 31, while Bacolod City is under GCQ with heightened restrictions until August 15.