Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said on Tuesday, September 6, that they continue to monitor the situation in the province, especially there’s already a confirmed case of monkeypox disease in Iloilo.
“All these monitoring are used as our basis and guide of what to do if a case is discovered in the province,” Tumimbang said, adding that the provincial government and City Government of Bacolod will be collaborating its efforts to thwart possible entry of the disease that may mar the festivity.
“These are threats that we should prepare for, hence, two weeks before the start of the festival, we will strengthen the monitoring of our airport,” Tumimbang reiterated.
He said the Bacolod City Health Office is already preparing as well and has coordinated with them at the PHO with regards to the establishment of monitoring station at the Bredco Port.
“They are also finalizing protocols with the different government agencies like the Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Immigration, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines”, he added.
For the part of the province, the doctor assured that they have local government units (LGUs) to take care of their own protocols, especially in cities of San Carlos and Escalante where there are also sea ports.
“We agreed to set up a composite team at the Bredco Port that will monitor if persons entering Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have fever like what was implemented for coronavirus disease (Covid-19),” he added.
If someone with fever is detected, he or she will be isolated and inform the concerned LGUs to bring him or her to the quarantine facilities where they will stay for seven days, Tumimbang added.
Meanwhile, Tumimbang said that he is not in favor of scrapping the use of face masks, especially during the MassKara Festival.