Negrenses urged to rally behind exhausted medical front-liners

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL  Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has urged Negrenses to throw support behind the province’s medical front-liners as they continue to treat patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).   

Lacson issued the call on Tuesday afternoon as he acknowledged the exhaustion of health care workers in carrying out their duties during the pandemic.

“To all Negrenses, our front-liners are now at the point of being consumed. Let us help and rally around them by staying home and strictly observing our health protocols,” the governor said.

Lacson said mankind was unprepared for the ongoing health crisis which thrust health care workers “into the battlefield where the full strength of the enemy confronts” them.

“I know that you are already drained, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally,” he added.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Negros Occidental had almost 550 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Late last month, the Canlaon Medical Society and the Negros Occidental Medical Society have expressed their alarm on the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental due to local transmissions.

The two groups of medical doctors recommended that Bacolod, the capital city of Negros Occidental, be placed under enhanced community quarantine for at least two weeks again to limit the movement of people as a means to contain the virus and prevent its spread to a level of high community transmission, which would be, according to them, more difficult to handle.

Local business leaders, however, opposed the proposal, saying they are already experiencing the negative impact of the economic downturn due to the quarantine measures imposed earlier.

They instead suggested implementing stricter enforcement of health protocols and aggressive tracking and improvement of the monitoring system, and declaring of localized lockdowns in areas where community transmission is monitored.

Strictly enforce the minimum health standards, including physical distancing and wearing of masks, they added. (By Nanette Guadalquiver)