By Nanette Guadalquiver | Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY – Some 1.1 million residents of Negros Occidental have been vaccinated with at least one dose against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the end of December 2021 according to data released by the provincial government on Monday, Jan. 3.
The number represents 60.37% of the 1.825 million target population for vaccination.
About 761,000 are already fully vaccinated, including those who availed of the single-dose Janssen.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue to level up with the arrival of massive vaccine supplies in the province.
“With or without (the Omicron variant threat), we should double-time to reach herd immunity (population protection),” he told Capitol reporters.
In his New Year message before provincial government employees, Lacson said the Provincial Health Office continues to strengthen the province’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and reinforces the systems for public health preparedness.
As of Jan. 2, Negros Occidental, which is currently under Alert Level 2, has 172 remaining active COVID-19 cases, based on the report of the Provincial Incident Management Team.
Some 2,130 confirmed cases have been treated in three district hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic.
Lacson said to further strengthen its COVID-19 response, the provincial government has allotted P64.55 million for the upgrading of equipment and facilities of all district hospitals.
The latest is the nitro sterile medical waste decomposer and treatment facility at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City inaugurated on Dec. 31.
It is intended for the management of infectious medical waste in provincial government-run hospitals.
The Provincial Disaster Management Program Division has funded P48 million worth of projects to strengthen preparedness and response for COVID-19, hospital support program, and to back up the operations of Emergency 911 and Provincial Command Center. (PNA) – bny
