BACOLOD CITY - The city government of Bacolod is appealing to those who tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in recent mass testing here, but could no longer be contacted, to coordinate with the authorities so that they could be treated.

Of the 4,384 individuals, who underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests during the mass testing here from August 27 to 29, 531 were infected by the virus.

Councilor Renecito Novero, chairman of the Quarantine Center Action Team, said there were some individuals out of the 531, who provided inaccurate information like home addresses and contact numbers.

This was discussed during a meeting with the Emergency Action Center, after 

health personnel of the barangay and city reported that they were having difficulty tracing these patients.

The councilor stressed that giving incorrect information was a crime, especially if one was subjected to a swab test.

“We need your cooperation. If you test positive and do not cooperate, you will victimize not only yourself but also your family and the community and this will multiply the problem,” Novero said.

He warned these individuals that they can be arrested by the police if they do not cooperate.

“No matter how good or intelligent the city’s anti-COVID-19 program is, if there is no cooperation it will fail, and everyone will suffer, he said.

Over the weekend, contact tracing teams in the city were sent off from the Bacolod City Government Center.

Prior to the send-off, Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), had a dialogue with the contact tracing teams composed of nurses, military, and police regarding the safety precautions on the COVID-19 pandemic while performing their duties.

As of September 13, Bacolod reported a total of 2,574 COVID cases, including 35 deaths, 988 recoveries, and 1,551 active cases.

Meanwhile, the province of Negros Occidental reported that 167 individuals from the cities of Bago, Talisay, and Silay, and Murcia town tested positive for COVID, out of the total 1,895 individuals who participated in the two-day mass testing from August 30 to 31. 

The mass testing was part of the provincial government’s initiative dubbed “Timeout Weekend”, targeting about 10,000 individuals who are symptomatic, to arrest the spread of the virus. 

Of the 10,000 target, only 6,279 underwent the RT-PCR tests in five local government units (LGUs).